This project invites a shared exploration of how cochlear implants, neurodivergence, mental health, and substance use intersect through lived experience. Grounded in both collaborative contributions and personal narrative, it examines how sensory processing, perception, and emotional regulation shape identity and coping strategies. Drawing on my own experiences alongside others, the work reframes substance use not simply as pathology, but as a response to overwhelming internal and external environments, aiming to build a more nuanced, person-centred understanding of complex, overlapping experiences.