Shari B. Kaplan on Anxiety, Pain, and the Truth About Plant-Based Healing

What if anxiety and pain are not problems to eliminate, but signals your body is trying to send you? In part two, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles continue the conversation with Shari B. Kaplan and get real about plant-based healing, nervous system balance, and taking back control of your health.

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

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Mental Health Quote

“You can use the medicine, but you still have to show up and change your life.” — Shari B. Kaplan

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Episode Description

In part two, Shari B. Kaplan breaks down one of the most talked-about and misunderstood topics in mental health right now, plant-based healing.

From cannabis to herbal medicine, she explains how these tools can support anxiety, pain, and overall balance in the body when they are used intentionally.

G-Rex and Dirty Skittles bring their own experiences into the conversation, sharing what it is like to live with anxiety and chronic pain, and how they have navigated different approaches to treatment.

What stands out most is the reminder that no tool works on its own. Real healing requires participation. Movement matters. Breathing matters. Awareness matters.

They also talk about humor, how it can interrupt negative thinking, and why learning to shift your internal dialogue can change how you experience your day.

If you are curious about natural approaches to mental health or looking for new ways to manage anxiety and pain, this episode gives you practical insight in a way that feels real and grounded.

Keywords: Shari B. Kaplan, anxiety relief, plant medicine, cannabis for mental health, chronic pain, holistic healing, endocannabinoid system, natural remedies, emotional healing, trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, alternative medicine

Meet Our Guest — Shari B. Kaplan

Shari B. Kaplan, LCSW, is an integrative mental health and trauma specialist and the founder of Cannectd Wellness, where she combines psychotherapy, plant medicine, and holistic approaches to support long-term healing.

Website: https://www.cannectd.com
Meet Shari: https://www.cannectd.com/meet-sharibkaplan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharibkaplan/
Instagram (Cannectd): https://www.instagram.com/cannectd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shari-b-kaplan-lcsw-180b1682

Key Takeaways

• Anxiety and pain are signals from the body
• Plant medicine works best when combined with daily habits
• Balance in the body supports healing
• Humor can shift your mindset quickly
• You have more control over your healing than you think

Actionable Items

• Start low and go slow if exploring plant-based options where legal
• Move your body daily, even in small ways
• Create a simple “joy trigger” that helps reset your mood

 

Important Chapters

• 00:00 – Reframing negative self-talk
• 08:00 – Finding joy in small moments
• 18:00 – Plant-based medicine explained
• 28:00 – Anxiety, pain, and cannabis
• 40:00 – Movement and healing
• 50:00 – Final reflections

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#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch #AnxietyRelief #PlantMedicine #CannabisEducation #ChronicPainRelief #HolisticHealing #NaturalMentalHealth #HealingJourney #MindBodyConnection #AlternativeMedicine

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