Remember the hiking trip with your friends where you reached the summit and gazed into the openness below? Did you ever feel the urge to jump off the mountain? Trust us, we have. In fact, most of us have experienced that same sensation, and it is absolutely normal. Let’s dive in a bit more to figure out what’s really going on.
The call of the void
In French, it is a more pleasant-sounding phrase, 'l'appel du vide' -- the phenomenon in which your brain tricks you with adventurous thoughts about jumping atop of cliffs, buildings, and mountains, or even jumping in front of a roaring train. But suddenly your instincts kick in and protect you with the logical understanding that such actions would not be a great idea.
It is a mixture of consciousness and unconsciousness states of the mind. Some researchers refer to the Call of the Void as High Place Phenomenon (HPP) – rightfully named for our discussion here.
How common is it?
April Smith, an associate professor of psychology at Miami University in Ohio, studied this behavior and found that about fifty percent of people have experienced the call of the void without any suicidal ideation, and It happens because of the miscommunication of the brain – a bit of mind trickery
While this happens largely in people without suicidal tendencies, those who do experience more common suicidal thoughts may be experiencing a different phenomenon – one that’s potentially more dangerous and should be discussed a medical professional.
What causes the call of the Void
Scientists are still not sure about the causes of high place phenomena. Research seems to indicate that people with higher anxiety were more likely to have higher suicidal thoughts along with the feeling of HPP. Others, without high anxiety levels, may experience HPP with a drive towards one’s thrills and survival instincts.
So, the next time you’re out on that beautiful peak with a sea of trees below you and you have the urge to jump right in, you can take solace in knowing that this is completely normal - you’re just experiencing the phenomenon of the Call of the Void