I think descriptions of our "mutual brainwashing" aren't so interesting as a different question you didn't ask. How come 'running away from reality' has made us a dominant species on this planet?

Maybe there is up-to-date storytelling and outdated storytelling? Maybe your fear-based description of 'human condition' is actually a description of some transitional state of our culture A.D. 2017 and we just need some new and up-to-date stories for the Information Age?

And then the fear will disappear...