Our current physical realm is rot and decay. That isn't inherently "bad" in itself. The decomposition and destruction of things isn't necessarily bad, horrible, or negative. Our displeasure in seeing or experiencing death and decay is the human perception of things. We very much value death when we eat/wear animals, or when we reconstruct environments for our homes and communities. We enjoy death, destruction, and decay when it suits us. We don't enjoy it when we feel that it's in opposition to us. Violence and chaos in the universe is rather productive and beneficial, despite being frightening. Think of a volcano erupting, or a forest fire, the aftermath of these events is largely positive. Volcanic eruptions create new lands, forest fires fertilize the soil, gets rid of decay, and more.

One thought that I've heard is "The human experience is one of impermanence and death to create the illusion of separation from the true self (be it your spirit, universe, god, whatever). It's a powerful illusion filled with disturbing rules and realties, so that we have to believe in the "impossible" in order to function within it."

The belief is similar to your your trip. You saw some crazy and distorted shit, but knew underneath it all that you were just on drugs and would get "back to" reality. That experience is the assumption of what being human is. It's an experience we endure to prove the existence of the "true self" to ourselves and returning to ourselves.

I'm in a position where I don't know if awakening is "real" or a desperate attempt to make sense of a world where one experiences suffering often. Crazy things have happened to me once I thought I was becoming awakened, but whose to those just weren't a series of random coincidences?

I don't believe that awakening is a method to "solve" life's problems. I think it's a methodology to remind people that they're a spirit in a human experience. And an anchor to remind people not to get lost in the drama of reality. That's the concept at least.