In working with analysis i have often been fascinated by the contradictory processes that happen in human thinking, feeling and behaviour.  We have to in our development be invested in self preservation because of what we need.  This is with primary needs, food comfort , attachment, shelter and warmth.  This is something we need to develop and flourish.  However, we also experience fear in these processes whether we are aware of this or not.  Human beings are so sensitive that even a experience that was not  life threatening or damaging can still be internalised as significant and traumatic.  I will never forget the distress of my 3 year old son when i had moved my car of the gravel drive and drove round the corner rather then waiting on the side and in view of him.  This was to let someone else out that i was blocking in.  My experience was logistics and i knew i had asked the other car driver to wait till i got back into the drive so my son would not be alone.  My sons experience was that i had drove off out of view so he could not see me and therefore “I had gone”.  His attachment and security had been compromised and he was distressed and inconsolable for some time.  He has never forgotten this incident that was completely innocent and actually safe in reality.  This is why i think its always important to recognise human sensitivity in a general sense that started a long time ago in development.  This is rather than make comparisons on who was impacted more because of a  difficult background.  This is not to minimise the significance and level of trauma of a difficult background.  This is considering that human beings in a general sense are fear based in one way shape or form.  This is relevant in addiction where step 4 inventory can look at selfishness with being closed-minded and hearted, impatience, intolerance, laziness, revenge and injustice.  That the obsession can show itself in forms of arrogance, boasting, control, envy, excess, gossip, jealousy, perfectionism, prejudice, justification.  In some ways obsessional defences that really protect a lot of fear, loss and pain.  This can impact self worth and escalate cheating, deviousness, cowardice,  dependency, exaggeration, insincerity, lying, self-condemnation and thrill seeking at others expense. Again what may lie below all these powerful defences that keep someone spiritually unwell is a fearful human being.  This is why looking at step 4 and person inventory is so important to get a handle on the complexity of the condition of self.