Paraphrase: To what degree/extent does fear play prevent us from…..
Fear play = play through fear = (diverting) activity, including manipulation of something (patient) while using fear instrumentally,
or
Fear play = play with fear : use of fear as toy,
or
something else.
Note how vague a noun complex (noun + noun) can be when one omits the preposition that is supposed to articulate the relation binding the nouns.
Twisted minds newfangle such fuzzy stock phrases: content marketing, crisis or risk management, wheel house, elevator pitch, customer journey,…