<p>When PMDD, shame, and self-silencing took over, Heather Hendrie discovered that laughter could be its own kind of medicine. In this raw and real conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Heather — bestselling author and nature-based therapist — to talk about using humor, wilderness, and truth-telling to heal from the inside out.</p> <p><em>Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads</em> — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 2 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to spark honest, unfiltered conversations about mental health.</p> <p>We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here:<br> <a href="https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a</a></p> <p> </p> <hr> <h3></h3> <strong>Mental Health Quote</strong> <p><em>“When we laugh at what once shamed us, we take our power back.” — Heather Hendrie</em></p> <p> </p> <hr> <h3></h3> <strong>Episode Description</strong> <p>PMDD has a way of turning everyday life into emotional chaos — but what if laughter, honesty, and nature could help calm the storm? In this deeply human episode, Heather Hendrie, bestselling author of the <em>awfully hilarious</em> series and founder of True Nature Wilderness Therapy, joins G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to talk about what happens when mental health meets humor and wild places.</p> <p>Heather opens up about her own battles with PMDD and the shame so many women carry around their bodies, moods, and “messy” moments. Through her candid storytelling and nature-based counseling work, she’s made it her mission to remind us that we’re never as alone — or as broken — as we think.</p> <p>The conversation is equal parts emotional and hilarious as they explore what it means to heal without hiding, find peace in imperfection, and use humor as both a coping tool and a connector. From therapy sessions in the woods to writing about awkwardly human moments, Heather proves that healing doesn’t have to look polished — it just has to be honest.</p> <p>This episode is a love letter to everyone navigating PMDD, burnout, or emotional exhaustion, showing that humor and self-compassion aren’t distractions from healing — they’re essential parts of it.</p> <p><strong>Keywords:</strong> <em>Heather Hendrie, PMDD, humor and healing, nature-based therapy, mental health awareness, women’s wellness, shame resilience, storytelling, emotional health, wilderness therapy, self-acceptance, empowerment, laughter therapy, destigmatizing mental health</em></p> <p> </p> <hr> <h3></h3> <strong>Meet Our Guest — Heather Hendrie</strong> <p>Heather Hendrie is an Amazon #1 bestselling author, counsellor, and creator of <em>Awfully Hilarious: Stories We Never Tell</em>. Based in Whistler, British Columbia, she runs <strong>True Nature Wilderness Therapy</strong>, helping people reconnect with themselves through nature-based healing. Her writing and therapy work both aim to end shame, uplift women’s health, and make space for messy, honest conversations about mental health.</p> <p><strong>Website:</strong> <a href="https://heatherhendrie.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://heatherhendrie.com/</a><br> <strong>Instagram:</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/heather.hendrie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/heather.hendrie/</a><br> <strong>Facebook:</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/heatherannehendrie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/heatherannehendrie</a><br> <strong>LinkedIn:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherhendrie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherhendrie/</a></p> <p> </p> <hr> <p> </p> <p><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></p> <ul> <li>Humor can be a radical act of healing — especially when we use it to face shame.</li> <li>PMDD and mental health struggles thrive in silence; storytelling breaks that silence wide open.</li> <li>Nature isn’t just a backdrop for therapy — it’s a co-therapist.</li> <li>Healing doesn’t mean being “fine”; it means being honest.</li> <li>Laughter helps us metabolize pain and reconnect with joy.</li> </ul>   <hr> <h3></h3> <strong>Actionable Items</strong> <ul> <li>Write your own “awfully hilarious” story — something you once felt ashamed of — and notice how it feels to name it.</li> <li>Spend 15 minutes outdoors daily without your phone, just breathing and observing.</li> <li>Share one truth with someone safe this week — even if your voice shakes.</li> </ul>   <hr> <h3></h3> <strong>References Mentioned</strong> <ul> <li><em>awfully hilarious: stories we never tell</em> — by Heather Hendrie</li> <li>True Nature Wilderness Therapy — <a href="https://heatherhendrie.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://heatherhendrie.com/</a></li> <li>PMDD Awareness — <a href="https://iapmd.org