Michael Cline appeared calm while traveling through Tenerife, but severe anxiety, depression, and frightening thoughts were unfolding beneath the surface. His lived-experience story reminds us that smiles and beautiful surroundings do not prove someone is okay - and that honest conversation and support matter.

DSM-5-TR does not list polysubstance use disorder as a standalone diagnosis, yet the label remains common in some treatment settings. Sandy Rivers explains how one broad term can obscure specific substances, trauma, mental health needs, pain, and treatment options - and why person-centered assessment matters.

Jennifer Thomas examines the hidden mental health cost of always having to appear strong. For many Black women, chronic racial stress, vigilance, perfectionistic coping, anxiety, depression, grief, and substance use can remain invisible behind high achievement. Good therapy begins by naming the context, not pathologizing survival.