top of page

Coping Is Not a Crime: Why Everyone’s Losing the Plot (and the Pills)

This article was supposed to be about that—about psilocybin, its trendy little comeback, and whether or not we should be side-eyeing the rise of 'functional fungi.' But somewhere along the way, it took a turn. And honestly? That turn left me wondering: what the hell is the world doing?

Because here’s the thing: this isn’t just about mushrooms. This is about why so many people—chronically ill or otherwise—are reaching for something, anything, to cope.

Because somewhere along the line, society decided that functioning wasn’t enough. We had to be thriving. Crushing it. Hustling. And somewhere even further down that line, people started quietly falling apart.


The Pace of Life Is Not Built for Humans

Let’s be blunt: modern life is absurd. You’re expected to be productive at work, emotionally available at home, politically engaged, socially conscious, physically fit, digitally fluent, and ideally gluten-free. All while pretending you’re not completely exhausted.

We live in a society where rest is treated as weakness and burnout is a badge of honour. You get a gold star for being overwhelmed—as long as you’re doing it quietly and with good posture.

But for those of us with chronic illness? This isn’t new. Stress, fatigue, anxiety—they’ve been baked into our existence for years. We don’t need a crisis to feel like we’re drowning. We’ve just learned how to do it more quietly.

Now, the rest of the world is catching up. And instead of asking why so many people are struggling, we’re still obsessing over how they’re trying to cope.


The Coping Backlash: Judged for Surviving

Whether it’s antidepressants, CBD, THC, therapy, prayer, or psilocybin, the moment you step outside the acceptable bounds of coping, the judgement begins. Especially if your method is unconventional—or illegal.

Take microdosing. For many chronically ill people, it’s not about achieving nirvana or levelling up—it’s about getting through the bloody day. Yet instead of empathy, they face raised eyebrows and moral panic.

It’s a familiar story: stigmatise the symptom, ignore the cause. We focus on what people are doing to survive instead of asking why they’re struggling to begin with. It’s easier to demonise coping than to confront the culture that demands it.


The Chronic Illness Reality Check

Here’s the bit that healthy people often miss: if you’re finding modern life overwhelming with full health, how do you think it feels for those of us dealing with pain, fatigue, brain fog, and a healthcare system that seems to have gone on an extended lunch break?

We’re expected to keep up in a world that wasn’t built for us. To hustle when we can’t stand. To plan like we’re not constantly at the mercy of our bodies. To perform wellness in a world that’s made us sick.

So when we see healthy people saying, “I can’t cope,” part of us sighs—Welcome to the party. But the rest of us wonders: If they’re breaking under the pressure, what hope do we have?


Maybe the Problem Isn’t the Mushroom

Let’s zoom out. What if the issue isn’t that people are microdosing? What if the issue is that people feel they have to? That the systems designed to support us—healthcare, employment, community—have been stripped bare, and we’re all patching holes in a sinking boat with lavender oil and blind optimism?

The problem isn’t the coping mechanism. The problem is the unlivable pace, the impossible expectations, and the absolute silence when someone dares to say, “I can’t do this anymore.”


When Coping Becomes Radical

There is something quietly radical in admitting, “I can’t keep up.” In choosing rest. In choosing joy. In choosing an unapproved, unregulated, slightly squishy path to relief.

For some, that path includes microdosing. For others, it’s naps, Netflix, or maybe a joint or two. Whatever the route, it’s a response to the same broken reality: we are not meant to live like this.

So maybe the next time someone whispers about what they’re doing to survive, we should stop asking if it’s respectable—and start asking if they’re okay.


The Next Generation Is Already Cracking

And while we’re busy pretending we’re fine, our children are watching—and in many cases, already cracking under the same pressure. Teen mental health issues are on the rise, with record levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout being reported in school-age children.

We’ve created a world where children are expected to be academic overachievers, emotionally mature, socially polished, and digitally perfect—before they've even hit puberty. And when they struggle, we act surprised.

They're growing up in a world that tells them success is survival and rest is weakness. That if they can't keep up, they're broken—not that the pace is. And that’s not just unsustainable—it’s dangerous.

If we don’t start creating a culture that prioritises balance, rest, and realistic expectations, we’re not just failing ourselves—we’re handing down an impossible standard to the next generation and calling it ambition.


Final Thought: It’s Not Weakness. It’s Wisdom.

Survival is not shameful. Coping is not a crime. And in a world that’s forgotten how to care for people, choosing to care for yourself—by any means available—is not weakness. It’s wisdom.


Sources & Further Reading

Disclaimer

This article is for educational and conversational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Psilocybin and Cannabis remains a Class A controlled substance in the UK. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before considering alternative treatments.


 
 
 

Comments

© 2025  Unremarkable Me

bottom of page