L’appel du vide: (lit. “the call of the void”) a French phrase used to refer to intellectual suicidal thoughts, or the urge to engage in self-destructive (suicidal) behaviors during everyday life.

TIL “call of the void” is that feeling when you think for a second about steering into oncoming traffic or jumping off a cliff for no reason although you would never do it.

Although these are two very different takes on what the definition of this thought process is, they are very similar. However, the unusual concept of thalassic pull to the void is relatively unheard of. This has the same sentiment of impulsiveness and the underlying feelings of fear mixed together near dangerous waters.

Part of the thalassic pull of the void is the feeling one has when standing next to dangerous water or a large body of water. It is possible that one has the sudden urge to jump into the water or to just want to understand what it feels like. It is possible that this is where the impulsiveness comes in: the lack in understanding of the subject.

Whirlpool State Park in Niagara Falls, New York, has a trail that leads hikers to the mighty river that separates Canada from the US. The undercurrent is known to pull swimmers down to its depths without salvation due to its speed. Yet, many tourists are not aware of this danger and still dip their toes in. Why is this? The thalassic pull of the void is the impulsiveness in the brain that leads humans to do this. Although it can be very nerve wracking to be near such powerful waters, class VI rapids, it is also thrilling and beautiful.

The lack of understanding comes with the lack of experience within this concept. If one does not understand what happens during and after and only knows the feelings of before, this creates curiosity. The call of the void does not necessarily go hand-in-hand with suicidal thoughts or even depression. The sudden impulse is what could trigger these things, yes. But having these thoughts seems, according to forums on Reddit, to happen to everyone.

Although this has possibly coined the term, ‘thalassic pull of the void,’ there could be many other references to the calling of the water pertaining to what type of water it is. For example, thalassic pertains to the sea, or saltwater; but if someone felt this pull to the void while hiking in the Niagara Gorge, the term would be lotic pull – as it pertains to rapidly moving freshwater, specifically rivers and streams. However, if one felt the pull in an open body of fresh water, they would feel the limnetic pull.

To be able to have a term for this has helped me clear my head, searching for what I thought no one else could feel. I’ve often felt the pull of the ocean when standing in ankle deep, wanting to just walk along the ocean floor as deep as I could possibly go. This also happens with deep swimming pools, I have an immense need to sit on the bottom of the deepest part of the pool as long as I can without air.

Is it possible someone else in the world has felt this ‘thalassic pull?’ Certainly, but I would’ve found their article by now. Hopefully this offers some clarity to other readers and future readers as well.

Special thank you to the subreddit, r/logophilia, for creating a list of words to help describe what I needed to be able to write this article.