But that functional example was butting heads with the whole eighteen-and-everything-is-terrible thing! She was floundering as all her old coping mechanisms deserted her or proved to be unequal to the task.

Truth be told, her new coping mechanisms weren't that great, either, but she was willing to give those a bit more time to kick in.

"Am I?" she asked, sounding almost timid. "I was the one who willingly gave it up."