For the recognition part, I've always found the quote associated with the Buddha "anger with its honeyed tip and poison root" helpful. Identifying the honeyed tip and poison root of each neurosis.

I disagree over how curiosity becomes stifled. I think the causes are less internal and more external. Mostly, social systems punishing curiosity. I don't think the world becomes much less mysterious as we age. I also don't think that having to admit our own ignorance is the cause of waning curiosity. It seems to me more that when you follow your curiosity, it forces other people into contact with their own ignorance, which they don't like, and therefore punish you socially.