Under the Cosh: The Mental Impact of Constant Pressure.

To be under the cosh is to live with an unrelenting sense of pressure, to feel trapped in a relentless cycle of scrutiny, judgment, and fear. It is the constant weight of knowing that at any moment, your world could collapse—not because of your own failings, but because someone else has decided to be offended, alarmed, or distressed by your character and humour. This essay explores the psychological toll of living under such circumstances and the broader implications of a world where subjective feelings can dictate someone else's reality.

The Unseen Burden of Constant Pressure.

Imagine waking up each day with the knowledge that every word you say, every joke you make, every opinion you express could be the trigger that sets off an avalanche of repercussions. The feeling is not just stress—it is something deeper, something more corrosive. It is the mental exhaustion of being hyper-aware, of second-guessing every action and bracing for an attack that may come from nowhere.

For those under the cosh, there is no reprieve. There is no safe moment to exhale, no opportunity to lower the guard. Whether online or in person, the fear lingers like a shadow, whispering, Will today be the day everything crumbles? This kind of sustained pressure breeds anxiety, paranoia, and in extreme cases, a sense of helplessness. It is not merely a case of being disliked or criticized—those things can be endured. It is the knowledge that one's very existence, or at least one's right to express themselves, is at the mercy of others' sensitivities.

The Weaponization of Offence.

At the core of this relentless pressure is the idea that subjective feelings can be used as weapons. We live in an era where being offended or alarmed is enough to justify severe consequences. It no longer matters whether something was meant in jest, satire, or even in good faith. If someone, somewhere, decides that they feel attacked, that alone can be enough to put someone under the cosh.

This shifting dynamic places immense power in the hands of the accusers. It is a power without accountability, because offence is inherently personal and unpredictable. What amuses one person might horrify another. What one sees as harmless banter, another may perceive as an unforgivable transgression. This creates a scenario where people are held hostage by the emotional responses of others, where humour, personality, and individuality are constantly under threat.

The Psychological Toll of Living in Fear.

Living under this pressure is not sustainable. The human mind is not designed to operate under constant scrutiny and threat. Over time, the weight of potential backlash—whether real or imagined—leads to chronic stress. The symptoms are well-documented: insomnia, irritability, exhaustion, and a creeping sense of isolation. One starts to withdraw, censoring not only their words but their very thoughts.

This is not merely a matter of being politically correct or respectful. This is about a society where people fear that their character, their past, and even their intentions can be twisted against them at any moment. It is about the erosion of resilience, where people are discouraged from pushing boundaries or engaging in open discourse because the risk is too great.

The Need for Perspective and Resilience.

There must be a counterbalance to this culture of hypersensitivity. People must be allowed to have a sense of humour, to challenge ideas, and to exist without walking on eggshells. This is not a call for cruelty or recklessness, but for perspective. Not everything that is said or done is meant to harm. Not every joke is an attack. Not every disagreement is an act of war.

To be under the cosh is to live in a world where good intentions no longer matter, where personal resilience is replaced by collective fragility. It is an unsustainable model, both for individuals and for society as a whole. If we continue down this path, the cost will be not just the mental health of individuals, but the loss of free thought, creativity, and even humanity itself.

The solution? Perhaps it starts with the simple act of refusing to be under the cosh in the first place. Of reclaiming the right to speak, to joke, to exist unapologetically. Because if we allow fear to dictate our every move, then we are not truly living—we are merely surviving.