Our brain can overcome pain and anxiety but at the cost of diminished perception. These responses manifest an imperative, genetic search for security and peace of mind. This is so important that our brain generates morphine-like chemicals to alleviate the intrusion of pain and anxiety. If related stresses have been experienced in the past, these memories may now intrude upon awareness to cause its reappraisal so as to increase the original feelings of stress. External threats cause stress which then causes fear or anxiety.
Fear is caused by an objective threat which can be pointed to, and avoided or overcome.
It attacks us in ways that cannot be avoided or overcome because the threat does not currently exist. This anxiety causes us to covet the security given by superior social status and material possessions. This in turn results in compulsive feelings of selfishness greed, lust, and guilt. Such feelings are always an irrelevant, irrational, inappropriate answer to our painful memories. This is our modern Eden Experience, where we must look beyond ourselves for our needs.