Key Takeaways
- Liminal spaces — physical or psychological — create discomfort by placing you at the threshold between what was and what's next.
- Intolerance of uncertainty is a recognized psychological vulnerability that amplifies anxiety and depression during ambiguous life transitions.
- Transitional periods, while stressful, can become turning points for mental health and personal growth with the right support.
That hollow feeling in an empty airport terminal at 2 a.m., with fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, not a soul around, captures what liminal spaces feel like. Those in-between moments, physical or psychological, sit between what was and what comes next.
From major life transitions to unfamiliar environments, liminal spaces can feel unsettling and disorienting. Research published in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health confirms that these transitional phases are universally demanding and, without adequate support, can meaningfully affect mental health.
Understanding what a liminal space is, why it feels uncomfortable, and how it shows up in culture and mental health can help you navigate these periods with more clarity.
What is a Liminal Space?
A liminal space is a transitional place or a state often characterized by an in-between area experienced during a transition. The word traces to the Latin limen, which means threshold. Anthropologist Arnold van Gennep described liminality as the middle phase of the rites of passage: separation, transition, and incorporation.
The liminal space's meaning reaches beyond architecture. Physical liminal spaces like hallways, stairwells, and gates are designed for passing through. Psychologically, liminality covers career changes, new parenthood, bereavement, and relocation: wherever a person stands between an old identity and a new one.
Why do Liminal Spaces Feel so Unsettling?
Liminal spaces feel unsettling because they disrupt the cues your brain relies on to feel oriented and safe. When environments or life circumstances lack clear signals about what comes next, the brain can interpret that ambiguity as a threat.
Several psychological factors contribute to this discomfort:
- Absence of people (autophobia): Empty environments remove social cues that help signal safety, which can heighten unease.
- Uncanny familiarity: Spaces may feel recognizable but slightly “off,” creating cognitive dissonance. This response is often linked to the psychology of nostalgia and memory, where familiar cues can trigger emotional recall even without a clear or conscious connection
- Disrupted purpose: Areas meant for transition can feel uncomfortable when you remain in them longer than expected.
- Sensory cues: Fluorescent lighting, echoes, certain sounds, or the lack of them can increase alertness and tension.
- Uncertainty anxiety: Research published in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders shows that intolerance of uncertainty is a key predictor of anxiety during ambiguous situations
Together, these factors explain why both physical and psychological liminal spaces can feel difficult to navigate.
How Have Liminal Spaces Taken Over Internet Culture?
Liminal spaces didn’t originate online, but internet culture gave the experience a shared language and visual identity. The concept gained widespread attention in 2019 with “The Backrooms,” a viral internet story often described as a creepypasta, a type of user-generated horror content that is copied and shared across forums to create a sense of unease.
“The Backrooms” imagines an endless maze of empty, fluorescent-lit office rooms, with no exit and no people. Its unsettling quality comes from how familiar the space feels, yet how deeply wrong it seems at the same time.
Online communities like r/LiminalSpace expanded this idea by sharing images of empty malls, abandoned playgrounds, and quiet corridors. Platforms like TikTok and YouTube further popularized the trend through short videos that capture the same eerie stillness.
Related visual styles have also emerged:
- Poolcore: Images of indoor pools or water parks that feel deserted, often lit by artificial lighting and marked by still water and silence
- Weirdcore: A broader aesthetic that combines distorted visuals, nostalgic elements, and text to create a surreal, dreamlike sense of disorientation
These styles share common features, such as outdated décor, artificial lighting, and an absence of people. Together, they reflect a broader cultural fascination with spaces that feel suspended between past and present, familiarity and uncertainty.
What Can Liminal Experiences Teach Us About Mental Health?
Understanding the liminal space meaning in psychological terms can change how you approach life transitions. Experiences such as moving, ending a relationship, or shifting careers can feel disorienting, but they also represent periods of potential change.
According to a study published in Psychological Medicine, completing positive life transitions in young adulthood is linked to measurably reduced transitional stress and mental health and substance use symptoms in adulthood. This suggests that these in-between periods can become meaningful turning points if approached with the right tools.
Several approaches can help you move through liminal experiences more effectively:
- Reframing uncertainty: Viewing transitions as temporary and meaningful can reduce distress linked to ambiguity.
- Creating micro-rituals: Small daily routines can restore a sense of stability when larger structures feel unclear.
- Strengthening social support: Research in Frontiers in Psychology shows that strong social connections reduce perceived stress and improve emotional well-being
“Transitional periods can disrupt our routines and who we have established ourselves to be in those routines. Simply, it can sometimes feel like we lack a skill set for the unknown making us feel ill prepared. To best cope, adopting an affirming mindset is helpful. Certainly we cannot control the future, but we can decide to remain open, to look forward, to hope, in order to embrace possibilities and also a growth mindset. Stay motivated to remain in this mindset. Remember that ambivalence is at the helm of motivation, and so we sometimes have decisively move forward in order to move beyond the spaces that we are in.
Elizabeth Keohan, LCSW-C
How Talkspace Therapists Support Mental Health During Life Transitions
Life transitions rarely follow a clear path, and the discomfort of not knowing what comes next does not always fade on its own. Building coping strategies for anxiety becomes essential when you are caught between who you were and who you are becoming.
“Therapy is not only a professional support but it it can serve as a wonderful buttress for those times where we can't exactly feel firm in our footing. Sometimes a growth period, can overwhelm, causing stress to impeded access to our own coping skills. Therapy is a wonderful place for perspective but also a place where we can reorient ourselves with our own authentic strengths. Something so easily forgotten when we transition through different phase of life changes."
Elizabeth Keohan, LCSW-C
Talkspace connects you with licensed therapists who specialize in anxiety, identity shifts, and grief, offering message-based therapy and live video or audio sessions on your schedule, from anywhere. Evidence-based care helps you reframe uncertainty and find emotional grounding. Start online therapy and get help today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are liminal spaces always negative for mental health?
No, liminal spaces are not always negative for mental health. They can create feelings of unease for some, but also offer opportunities for reflection, creativity, and personal growth.
Is feeling unsettled in liminal spaces a sign of anxiety or a mental health condition?
Not necessarily. Feeling unsettled in liminal spaces is often a normal reaction to unfamiliar or transitional environments and doesn’t automatically indicate anxiety or a mental health condition.
Why do empty places feel more disturbing than crowded ones?
Empty places can feel more disturbing because they lack social cues and activity, which normally signal safety and normalcy. The absence of people can amplify feelings of isolation, uncertainty, and the brain’s anticipation of potential threats.
Can liminal experiences be beneficial for personal growth?
Yes, liminal experiences can be beneficial for personal growth, as they create a space of transition and reflection. Being in these in-between moments encourages self-awareness, adaptability, and the opportunity to explore new perspectives before entering the next phase of life.
How can I reduce anxiety during major life transitions?
You can reduce anxiety during major life transitions by creating structure and routines, breaking down big changes into manageable steps, and maintaining supportive relationships. Practicing stress management techniques like mindfulness, journaling, or deep-breathing exercises can also help you stay grounded and navigate uncertainty more calmly.
Sources
- Fegert, JM, Gottschalk, G, et al. Navigating life transitions and mental wellbeing in the digital age: a call for stakeholders to embrace innovation and collaboration. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12166554/. 2025 Jun 14; 19: 67. Accessed March 27, 2026.
- Breaux R, Naragon-Gainey K, Katz BA, et al. Intolerance of uncertainty as a predictor of anxiety severity and trajectory during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Anxiety Disord. 2024;106:102910. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2024.102910. Accessed March 27, 2026.
- Copeland WE, Prytherch S, Rothenberg W, et al. Impact of young adult life transitions on adult mental health problems: a propensity score analysis. Psychol Med. 2025;55:e152. Published 2025 May 19. doi:10.1017/S0033291725001072. Accessed March 27, 2026.
- Acoba. Social support and mental health: the mediating role of perceived stress. Frontiers in Psychology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10915202/. 2024 Feb; 15: 1330720. Accessed March 27, 2026.
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