Premanand Maharaj Ji
Why do other people's words keep circling in my mind and make me afraid?
The mind invents fear without discernment
The mind can create fear out of imagination, with no real person or thing behind it, when viveka (discernment) is lacking. With viveka, the mind cuts the chain of thoughts at once, and Bhagwan protects.
It is a lack of viveka (discernment) that lets the mind bind us. The mind can bind us through imagination alone, creating fear even without any person, thing or place.