I have a theory, but it's a bit of a black pill. It's just a theory though, and immediately accessible like consciousness itself, since it precedes it.

Some initial being became aware of itself in some way, in so doing, it collapsed. It's been trying to claw it's way out since, but every step
out towards the light is also a step into the darkness. Newton's third law or something.

This is why plants grow towards the sun and why they shoot their roots into the ground. Escape imprisons. There may be no way out.