I used to work in a psyc hospital. Floating or hydrotherapy is for CALMING & RELAXATION. They used to use this type of treatment pre 1960s.
I think water is soothing for nerves. It's not deprivation in a bad way, but deprives over stimulated nervous system from stress. It calms the person down.

That’s so cool. I bet that was an experience working there!!

I definitely find myself the most relaxed leaving.

I can even hear the muscles (maybe tendons) in my neck and shoulders cavitating, during and after. Pretty amazing.

Yes! I wondered about the quiet too.
Usually I stay moving, because I feel best that way. I rarely sit still AND quiet!
I thought that might be a major factor, like a forced meditation 🫠

I think another name for the float tank is a sensory deprivation chamber. Should have some kind of positive impact on overactive nerves.
Once my husband started getting a kind of psychedelic effect, I would definitely call that forced meditation 🤪
I don't stay very still either, maybe for the first 10 mins.
I like floating on my stomach too like trying to do the Sphinx pose.

I like going once in awhile. I have a hard time getting my muscles to relax and get some tension from trying to float though.
Something about having the quiet space that is less stimulating is nice too.