This aricle investigates the psychology of the "void" or nothingness and how patients can see nothingness or a "nameless dread" as eminently hostile and threatening. The author explores potential avenues of warding back the void, including the Buddhist understanding of voidness and the nature of reality together with other approaches in psychoanalysis, to assist the patient in coping with and building insight and fortitude when confronted by "the void" (Zach Rowinski 2004-08-03)