I read some of your postings about your experiment with polyphasic sleep and the similarities in your experience to the one's I've had with sensory deprivation float tanks are striking.
In case you aren't familiar, floating involves laying in a tank of warm salt water with no light and no sound. The salt water (epsom salts - your skin doesn't shrivel at all) is so dense that you don't sink at all. You just lay back and relax, weightless. Remove the senses of sight and sound and you're ready to allow your mind to drift.
It is normal for people, even first-timers, to lapse into a deep semi-conscious state with strong Delta waves operating on your brain. These are the waves attained by adept meditators, usually after decades of experience.
It feels a bit like dreams that I sometimes have where I can sort of control the direction of them.
An hour in the float tank feels like 8 hours of sleep to me. I come out so rested, clear, and refreshed that it's amazing.
If you haven't tried it I recommend finding a float center either near your home (may not be one) or sometime when traveling. Try to find one with attractive facilities and tanks. I think setting the mood helps and makes the initial experience better.
A list of U.S. float centers can be found
here.
Floating is popular in Europe but hasn't really caught on here. I recommend you try it at least once.
By the way, you don't feel claustrophobic inside at all and if you've seen Altered States, don't worry, I haven't regressed my DNA even once (cool movie, though).
