History Main / PsychologicalTormentZone

* “{{Hell}}” in ''Anime/DeathParade'' is described as this. It is actually called “[[TheCessationOfExistence The Void]]”, where you are cursed for all eternity to fall into darkness, and the only things that remain of you are your deepest fears, regrets, and worst memories. The details are unknown, but there is no escape from it. What’s worse, [[{{Psychopomp}} the beings who decide who gets to go the void]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero are incredibly biased]] and [[LackOfEmpathy lack empathy]].

* In ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'', the guardian of Chorus puts potential "warriors" through this. Note that the test isn't one of morality, but rather of the person's inner strength, resulting in more than a few characters failing, including [[spoiler: Locus]]. The one who succeeds in the test is [[TheFool Caboose]], because he's a FearlessFool.

* In the ''WebAnimation/{{Eddsworld}}'' fan blog [[https://nighted-doors-au.tumblr.com/tagged/ew%20nighted%20au%20plot/chrono Nighted Doors]], the realm beyond the titular door is one of these, combining the trope with a DeadlyGame. Though sometimes it’s just a straight up ''physical'' torment zone too.

The place could be tainted with the DarkSide, beckoning [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghosts]] or causing [[YourMindMakesItReal too-real hallucinations]]. It might be a malicious GeniusLoci that [[EmotionEater feeds on anguish]]. Whoever or ''whatever'' is behind the emotional onslaught won't outright kill anyone... at least not at first. It usually [[DrivenToSuicide drives those it torments to suicide]], uses {{Fright Deathtrap}}s, or directly pits you against lethal physical enemies such as the EnemyWithout. Sometimes however, it can be stopped the moment the victim says "ImNotAfraidOfYou!" and/or reaches an emotional epiphany.

* Creator/AndreNorton's ''Literature/{{Warlock}}:''

* In ''[[Film/FourteenOhEight 1408]]'', the... ''whatever'' is messing with the lead throws an apparition of his deceased daughter and father at him. Though it says it can't kill him since it has to respect free will. It just [[DrivenToSuicide makes suicide the only sane option.]] Ironically, bringing up his deceased daughter is what ultimately pushed his BerserkButton and caused him to [[spoiler:[[TakeAThirdOption incinerate the room]] [[TakingYouWithMe despite still being trapped inside]].]]

*** This is combined with IKnowWhatYouFear in the Nightmare Machine, a theme park attraction bringing to life visitor's worst fears. A character wonders why anyone would go in to such a thing and is told that some people like being scared. Of course, when they try it out things go wrong and there's a FailsafeFailure, and they have to WinToExit - experience worse and worse fears until they've survived [[AdultFear the one thing they dread most]].

* In ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'' (the third installment published in ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'', and the fifth in terms of InUniverse chronology), the crew of the ''Dawn Treader'' must rescue the missing Lord Rhoop from an island engulfed in a fog of nightmares.

[[folder: Real Life]]

** Azkaban is this. It's TheAlcatraz for wizards and its guards consist of what with all the joy-sucking [[EmotionEater Dementors]], who leave inmates with nothing but their most horrible memories.
** In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'', Harry and Dumbledore traverse a cave where Dumbledore has to consume a "Drink of Despair" to acquire [[spoiler:a locket containing part of Voldemort's soul]] -- and it turns out [[spoiler:somebody else already swiped it]]. Then in [[Literature/HarryPotter the next book]], when the heroes finally [[spoiler:get their hands on the locket, it inflicts some psychological torment of its own on Ron Weasley before he manages to destroy it]].

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'': the sequel has the Fallen Fortress, being an EldritchLocation infested by a spiritual entity specialising in MindRape, functions as this. Sirius and Harry manage to deal with it relatively easily, thanks to their experience of being on the wrong end of MindRape. Harry's a bit shaken (thanks to facing a far too realistic illusion of Yelena Belova [[spoiler: sexually abused him while he was under the Red Room's control]], while Sirius is more or less unfazed, and both find it somewhat cathartic. Since Ron and Hermione ''don't'' have that experience, they're not so fortunate.

* In ''Series/TheAvengers'', Mrs Peel is imprisoned in a house that is specifically designed to drive her insane as part of a revenge plot.

See also EpiphanicPrison, which can overlap, and VisionQuest. Compare Room101 (which is this trope as a small part of a larger, more general-purpose location) and BlackBugRoom (the MentalWorld equivalent) Contrast HappyPlace, and LotusEaterMachine. See also MentalMonster for examples in which the MonsterOfTheWeek is based off the characters' mental or emotional struggles.

See also EpiphanicPrison, which can overlap, and VisionQuest. Compare Room101 (which is this trope as a small part of a larger, more general-purpose location) and BlackBugRoom (the MentalWorld equivalent) Contrast HappyPlace. See also MentalMonster for examples in which the MonsterOfTheWeek is based off the characters' mental or emotional struggles.

* ''Series/RedDwarf:''
** The false reality generated by the Despair Squid is designed to break the Dwarfers by making them believe they are people who are the exact opposite of their actual nature.

* The ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' franchise has dabbled in this trope many times

* A villain puts Arthur through one of these in the space arc of ''Webcomic/ArthurKingOfTimeAndSpace''. However, Arthur is ''so'' well-balanced and laid-back that the worst things it can find in his mind don't ''actually'' bother him that much.

See also EpiphanicPrison, which can overlap, and VisionQuest. Compare Room101 (which is this trope as a small part of a larger, more general-purpose location) and BlackBugRoom (the MentalWorld equivalent) Contrast HappyPlace.

** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Hippolyta and [[ComicBook/WonderGirl Donna]] are subjected to a local that makes them face their fears, insecurities and personal guilt. Polly is faced with a dying and then deceased Diana who accuses her of killing her due to Polly's manipulation of ComicBook/TheContest, while Donna faces herself disappointed at her current state in her many different guises over the years, accusations of abandonment by her ComicBook/TeenTitan friends and Dark Angel laughing at the mess she's made of Donna's life.

* ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfWonderWoman2016'': The Duke of Deception uses his illusion powers to make his victims see things which horrify them and bring them to despair.

** The Fog Of Lost Souls from the SequelSeries ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra''; essentially the Spirit World's prison for humans, it's a giant cloud of fog that plays upon the insecurities and past failures of those wandering around in it, slowly driving them insane. From the condition [[spoiler: Zhao]] is in when Tenzin and his siblings find him, it's likely that the Fog keeps its prisoners alive for a very long time. Luckily, there is one way out; the Fog is an EpiphanicPrison, and by coming accepting yourself, flaws and all, you can drive it back and regain your senses. This is no easy matter, though, particularly since the Fog makes rational thought increasingly difficult.
* ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' has The Valley of Echoes. Unlucky travelers can get lost in it forever following false sounds and voices that prey on their inner fears.