Human Insecurity -- Am I Safe? Do I Matter? Do I Belong?

We are born into the world with survival instincts that revolve around seemingly insatiable needs to be physically secure, to have value or purpose, and to belong to a community.  As we grow and develop, these basic insecurities serve as drives to adapt in order to satisfy these needs.  In the process we develop strengths, talents, skills, capabilities, achievements, and relationships that are useful for individual and group survival.  And yet, when stressed or  threatened, we easily revert back to primitive feelings of vulnerability and reactive thought and behavior patterns that are typical of early childhood.  This can be especially problematic during relationship challenges when both parties are feeling insecure.