Dealing with Early Morning Thoughts, with Kessonga

(gentle music) Headspace Studios. Please note that this week's episode contains discussion about difficult topics like suicide that may bring up strong emotions for some listeners. If you feel that hearing this content could potentially impact your mental wellbeing, please skip the second question of this particular episode. (gentle music) Hi, everyone. Woo, it is a new day and a new Dear Headspace. Robin here, and today I am joined by Kessonga and Headspace therapist, Samantha. And we've got some really important questions on tap for today. We'll be talking about how to know when to end a relationship, how to be strong for a parent struggling with mental health issues. And we have a question about how to calm those early morning anxious thoughts. So let's get right into it. (upbeat music) Have you ever wished you had a wise meditation teacher on speed dial? Someone you can call after a long day. Someone you could lean on for their advice. Someone to listen and help you to see things differently. Welcome to Dear Headspace, a podcast where I sit with a meditation teacher and we answer your questions. Hi, you two. I mean, here we are again. I mean, I have to say, I do love this combo. I love it too. I love it too. Me too. Greetings Robin and Samantha. Always a pleasure. Always a pleasure. You're getting some funky glasses on there, Samantha. I wish this was in video. Those are cute. I know, I have so many glasses. They're my thing. Mine too. I love it. You know why? They always make you feel good about yourself. Like they always fit. I noticed that, Samantha. I noticed your specs. They are quite lovely. Thank you, thank you. Very unique. Very stylish. Yeah, they match like the day. It depends on what's going on. All right, well, let's get things started, shall we? Here is our first question from Lisa and it is all about when to end a relationship. Hello, my name is Lisa and I'm from Southeast Los Angeles. My question is, how do I know if I should stay in a relationship? I've been with my partner for over seven years now. And throughout that time, we've broken up multiple times. Four years into the relationship, my partner enlisted into the Navy. But before that, I felt that I was more emotionally invested into the relationship than he was because he was the one who would break it off. When he enlisted, he asked me to marry him, which was a shock because I didn't feel it was a genuine proposal. So I declined. We're still together, but I consistently think about how unhealthy a relationship is. Last year, he told me he married his sister's best friend so he could receive the extra money from the military. And I still carry that into our relationship as we still try to make it work, but I feel lost. How do I know if...