You may not have heard of the phrase call of the void, but it might be something you’ve noticed.
The call of the void, also called intrusive thoughts or the high-place phenomenon, is an urge to do something dangerous even though you don’t intend to actually do it. You might think about jumping from a high place, swerving into oncoming traffic or hurting yourself or someone else.
“These thoughts are sudden, unanticipated, usually brief and entirely out of character,” said Jerimya Fox, a licensed professional counselor and a doctor of behavioral health with Banner Health.
Intrusive thoughts can make you feel confused, anxious or scared since you might not understand where they come from or why you have them.
Research on the call of the void is difficult since people don’t usually report these thoughts. But it seems like something many people notice at some point in their lives. Some people have these thoughts once in a while for a moment or two. Others have them more often or more intensely.
Understanding the call of the void
Intrusive thoughts are thoughts, images or impulses that you find disturbing or distressing. They feel like they come out of nowhere and can be at odds with your values, beliefs or intentions.
The call of the void is a specific type of intrusive thought. Even though you might reject these thoughts, they can pop up in your subconscious mind. They may be a response to conflicts that haven’t been resolved, emotions you’ve suppressed or anxieties you haven’t addressed.
Intrusive thoughts like these come from specific parts of your brain. Your prefrontal cortex manages your attention and controls impulsive behavior, and your amygdala processes emotions and detects threats. Problems in these areas could lead to intrusive thoughts like the call of the void.
Personality traits, past experiences and mental health conditions may also influence whether and how strongly you experience the call of the void.
These thoughts may have helped our ancestors survive, since being hyper-aware of dangers may have reduced the risk of injury or death. Now, though, these thoughts may feel irrational.
It’s important to understand that these thoughts don’t mean you are suicidal. You’re not likely to act on these thoughts just because you have them. “They are simply intrusive thoughts.
Your brain gets confused sometimes when it has a high stress thought and jumps directly to a protective state,” Dr. Fox said.
Common experiences
People report these intrusive thoughts in some common situations:
- Standing at a height: You may feel the urge to jump or fall when you’re on a balcony, rooftop or cliff edge. It can be unsettling because you’re drawn toward the edge, but you also feel scared or anxious about what could happen if you act on the impulse.
- Driving a car: You may have thoughts of swerving into traffic or veering off the road, even though you intend to drive safely and responsibly. With these thoughts, you might feel distressed about risking the safety of other people as well as yourself.
“Intrusive thoughts are believed to be the result of some kind of miscommunication in your brain,” Dr. Fox said. “For example, if you are standing at a place that is high, your brain says, ‘I need to be careful.’ An impulsive thought could come that says, ‘Well, I could just jump.’ It is like the mind is playing a trick on your thought process, but it is not something to worry about. Some thoughts are just noise, especially when they last for a second.”
It’s common to experience the call of the void when you’re feeling stressed or anxious. “Research has shown that people who reported higher levels of anxiety have felt the call more often than those with lower self-reported levels of anxiety.” Dr. Fox said. And when you’re feeling this way, it can be harder to dismiss or control these thoughts.
Is it normal?
The call of the void is more common than many people realize. “In some studies, over half of the participants reported they have experienced the call of the void,” Dr. Fox said. It occurs across cultures and worldwide, so it seems to be a universal human experience. People in different cultures might respond to these thoughts differently, but underneath they seem to be the same.
These intrusive thoughts are different than actual intentions to take risks. They are involuntary and are not linked to your intentions or values. You shouldn’t judge yourself for having them.
How to cope
If intrusive thoughts are impacting your life, you can try these strategies to manage them:
- Grounding exercises: This mindfulness technique helps you stay connected to the present moment. In one common grounding exercise, you use your senses to focus on the immediate environment by noticing five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste. This grounding exercise can help shift your focus away from intrusive thoughts, so you feel calmer and more stable.
- Meditation: Meditation can help quiet your mind so you can observe your thoughts without judging them. It can help you be more aware and accepting of your intrusive thoughts.
- Deep breathing: Diaphragmatic breathing can help regulate your stress response so you feel more relaxed.
- Reframing thoughts: You can learn to reframe intrusive thoughts into more realistic ones. In this process, you examine the evidence for and against intrusive thoughts, consider other perspectives and develop coping methods that counteract negative self-talk. Reframing thoughts can give you a sense of control over them.
How professionals can help
You may be able to manage the call of the void on your own. “When these intrusive thoughts become consistent, there is cause for alarm. Even though most people will never act on these thoughts, they can be upsetting. If the intrusive thoughts are a problem, however, it may be a good idea to talk with a mental health provider,” Dr. Fox said.
Therapy, medication and other treatments can help you uncover and manage what’s triggering the call of the void. Then, you can learn to tolerate these thoughts, so they don’t impact your daily life as much. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or exposure therapy may help. A behavioral health provider can help you build resilience and coping strategies.
Sometimes, intrusive thoughts are a sign of underlying health concerns like anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). If intrusive thoughts interfere with your daily life, cause stress or make you feel unsafe, reach out to a mental health provider.
The bottom line
The call of the void is a brief urge to do something risky, even though you don’t intend to follow through. With it, you may think about jumping off a tall building or swerving into traffic.
These types of intrusive thoughts are common and you can probably manage them on your own. If they’re distressing, a mental health provider can help you learn how to cope. Reach out to an expert at Banner Health if intrusive thoughts are interfering with your life.
