The word “liminal” comes from the Latin word limen, which means threshold.
There’s an uncanny sense that the lines between what you know and what happens next will become blurred.
TheCOVID-19 pandemicwas a prime example of liminal space.
Nanthawan Raksakulkan / EyeEm / Getty Images
This transition theory explains that changes in people’s life stages follow this pattern.
Being in a liminal space can be incredibly uncomfortable for most people.
Our brains cravehomeostasisand predictability, and the liminal space is everything but.
There’s and eerie, almost dreamlike quality that makes the experience feel almost otherworldly.
Let’s take a look at some examples of liminal space.
Physical Liminal Spaces
A physical liminal space is perhaps the easiest to understand.
Think of a staircase.
But what about if you get stuck in a stairwell?
Then, visions of horror movies might start racing through your head.
People will face many different liminal spaces during all of life’s phases.
Events like these have the tendency to divide our lives into pre-divorce and post-divorce, for example.
A trapeze makes an excellent metaphor for this.
You might also think of having to choose between two decisions.
Maybe you should probably choose between spending the evening with your romantic partner or your best friend.
Until you make a decision, you are in a liminal space.
It’s your perception of it that might be concerning.
Sometimes, it’s even beneficial.
Such feelings can lead to anything from anxiety to depression tosuicidal ideation.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
What Makes Liminal Spaces So Unsettling?
It’s more than just the fear of uncertainty.
It becomes the fear that one will not have the emotional resources to cope.
This leads to avoidant behaviors such assubstance useorself-harm.
On the other hand, beauty can lie in liminal spaces.
Think of liminal spaces in architecture, like a beautiful atrium in the entryway of a museum.
How to Cope With Liminal Spaces
We all deal with liminal space at one point or another.
And making our way through these liminal spacesphysical, psychological, or emotionalcan be tough.
But they can be opportunities for growth.
The key to to find ways to support yourself as you embrace the unknown.
So, stop for a moment to take stock of where you are right now.
What does uncertainty feel like in your body?
Then,observe your breathcoming in and out as you remind yourself that you are OK in this moment.
Yet, whether it be fictitious or true-to-life,creativitymight flourish in times of uncertainty.
Research has shown thatexpressive arts therapycan be an effective way to feel calmer and less stressed.
If you’re really struggling during a period of transition, pleasereach out to a trained mental health professional.
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