Back in 2016, Break the Cycle launched Let’s Be Real to give young people a megaphone for honest conversations about dating, boundaries, and building healthy connections. While the movement might not be as active as it once was, its mission lives on: helping you see what healthy, drama-free relationships should look like.
Original Purpose of Let’s Be Real
Let’s Be Real wasn’t just another teen support group. It was a movement built completely by young people, for young people. In 2016, 22 passionate teens from across the country came together to create something special. They picked the name, designed the logo, and made sure everything represented their vision.
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Their goal was to build a safe space where teens could talk about anything and everything related to dating.
Want to discuss your first crush? Struggling with a messy breakup? Confused about sexuality?
Let’s Be Real was the place where no topic was off-limits. Young people could share their experiences, learn from each other, and feel completely supported.
If you’re looking for resources and tools related to teen dating and abuse, check our Community Tools & Training page.
Helpful Resources for Teens
Whether you’re dealing with a nasty breakup or trying to figure out if your relationship is growing toxic, we’ve got your back. Here’s our handpicked collection of articles that’ll help you navigate the wild world of dating and relationships.
1. Healthy relationships
Ready to level up your relationship? These articles will show you what a healthy relationship actually looks like (spoiler alert: it’s not what you see on Love Island), and give you the real tips you need to build one that doesn’t make you want to move to a desert island:
- Relationship Rights and Responsibilities: Know What Matters
- The Ideal Number of Dates Before a Relationship Is Official: Here’s What to Know
- 150+ Ways to Say “I Love You”
- How to Fix a Relationship, Rebuild Trust, and Write a New Love Story
- How to Make Yourself More Attractive and Build Your Confidence
- The Socially Awkward Gal’s Guide to Surviving Dating Life
- 61 Flirty Questions to Ask a Guy to Make Him Laugh
- How Do You Know You Love Someone? Learn to Read the Signs
- Why Do Relationships Get Boring? How to Break Free from the Relationship Rut
- Being a Hopeless Romantic: Both Blessing & Curse
- How to Stop Overthinking Everything: 7 Tips for Finding Peace in Your Relationship
- 156 Pickup Lines to Flirt (& Laugh) Your Way Into His Heart
- Why Can’t I Get a Boyfriend? Find Out What’s Holding You Back
- Do You Like Him or the Attention? The Key to Unraveling Your Feelings
- Why Do I Have a Crush on Someone I Barely Know? The Answers According to Science
- How to Tell Someone You Miss Them Without Sounding Needy and Clingy
- Ways Guys Hint They Like You Through Text: Decode the Signs
- 16 Qualities of a Good Man for a Lasting Relationship
- What Does It Mean When a Guy Calls You Cute?
- How to Deal With Relationship Anxiety and Learn to Overcome It
- How to Respond to “I Miss You” Texts: Thoughtful Replies & Tips
- 129 Things to Talk About With Your Boyfriend to Strengthen Your Connection
- Send Love Letters to Him: Awaken Your Inner Poet or Simply Copy and Paste
- 7 Signs Someone Is Constantly Thinking About You (Plus 14 Mystical Signs!)
- Reasons to Love Someone: What Makes Love Deep and Genuine
- Long-Distance Relationships: How to Make Them Work
- 11 Signs a Man Is in Love: How to Know He’s Serious
- 13 Powerful Signs of Male Attraction: How to Tell a Man Is Interested
- Reasons to Love Someone: What Makes Love Deep and Genuine
- What Guys Like in a Girl: Your Guide to Accentuating the Positive
- 11 Signs a Man Is in Love: How to Know He’s Serious
- When a Guy Calls You Beautiful: Are His Feelings True or Is He Just Sweet Talking You?
- Why Does He Keep Looking at Me? 8 Reasons Guys Stare
- Why Do I Keep Dreaming About the Same Person? Discover the Meaning Behind Your Recurring Dream
- How to Start a Conversation With a Guy
- How to Tell If Someone Has a Crush on You: 14 Clear and Subtle Signs
- Love Paragraphs That Will Make Him Light Up & Show How Much You Care
- Why Do I Keep Thinking About Someone? 10 Possible Reasons and 5 Ways to Stop
- 10 Signs He Cares About You Deeply (Number 4 Will Remove Any Doubt)
- Why Does He Stare at Me So Intensely? 15 Reasons for Fierce Eye Contact
- How to Make Him Fall in Love with You: A Modern Woman’s Guide
- 113 Questions to Ask a Guy to Get to Know Him Deeper
- Dating vs Relationship: How to Tell the Difference
- What Not to Do on a First Date: Essential Tips to Avoid Common Pitfalls
- 13 Green Flags in a Relationship: Signs He’s a Keeper
- Should I Text Him First or Wait? 12 Rules of Texting Explained
2. Teen dating violence statistics
Sometimes love can hurt — and not in the Taylor Swift song kind of way. These articles break down the real facts about teen dating violence, so you can spot the warning signs and know exactly when it’s time to reach out for help:
- U.S. Teen Dating Violence Statistics 2024
- Child Sexual Abuse Statistics in the U.S. 2024
- Domestic Violence Statistics by State 2024
- LGBTQ+ Sexual Violence Statistics 2024
- How to Report Sexual Assault: Guide and Resources
- How to Document Abuse and Prove Domestic Violence: Building Your Case
- A Parent’s Guide to Identifying and Preventing Teen Dating Violence
- It Was Never About Clothes: Student’s Haunting Photos Confront Assault Myths
- Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence: How Addiction Affects Relationships
- Dating Violence: Understanding Signs and Seeking Help
3. Communicating boundaries
Setting boundaries isn’t being dramatic — it’s about having enough respect for yourself to say “nope, not cool” when something doesn’t feel right. Whether you’re trying to tell your partner to stop blowing up your phone 24/7 or need help saying no to that “you up?” text, we’ve got your back with real ways to speak up without the drama:
- Boundaries in a Relationship: Learn What They Are and How to Set Them
- Relationship Rights and Responsibilities: Know What Matters
- How to Deal With Rejection
- How to Talk to a Narcissist: 9 Strategies to Survive the Storm
- Jealousy in Relationships: Signs, Causes, and Solutions
- 23 Signs of Codependent Behavior in a Relationship
4. Navigating breakups
Breaking up might feel like the end of the world (cue the sad playlist and ice cream) but trust me — you’ll get through this and come out stronger on the other side. We are your ultimate survival guide for dealing with everything from the initial heartbreak to handling those awkward run-ins with your ex:
- How to Break Up With Someone: 7 Tips for a Compassionate Uncoupling
- Are There Benefits to Going No Contact After a Breakup? There Sure Are!
- Does Your Ex Want You Back? Maybe!
- How to Get Over a Breakup and Move On With Your Life
- Signs He Is Hurting After the Breakup: How to Validate Him
- 100 Questions to Ask Your Ex: Navigating a Breakup Chat
- Why Does He Randomly Text Me After Months? 15 Reasons He’s Back
- 10 Signs Your Relationship Is Over (or Needs a Serious Fix)
- How to Get Out of an Emotionally Abusive Relationship: Steps to Regain Your Freedom
- Why Did He Stop Talking to Me Suddenly? What It Means When a Guy Goes Radio Silent
- He Blocked Me Without Explanation: What It Means
- What Is Closure in a Relationship and How to Get It
- 10 Signs Your Relationship Is Over (or Needs a Serious Fix)
- Why Do Men Pull Away? Here’s What You Need to Know
- Journaling for Healing: Rediscovering and Empowering Your Inner Self
- Let It Go: How to Detach From Someone and Move On With Your Life
- 8 Tips for (Actually) Being Friends With Your Ex
- How to Leave a Toxic Relationship: 6 No-Nonsense Steps (+ Quiz)
- How to Get Over Someone Cheating on You: A Step-by-Step Guide
- When Is It Time to Break Up With Your Partner? The Telltale Signs You Need to End the Relationship
- How to Talk to a Narcissist: 9 Strategies to Survive the Storm
- Taking a Break in a Relationship: When Love Needs a Time-Out
5. Identifying unhealthy relationship signs
That gut feeling telling you something’s off in your relationship? Yeah, you should listen to it. These articles will help you spot those sneaky red flags that pop up in toxic relationships, so you can figure out what’s normal relationship drama and what’s definitely not okay:
- How to Recognize Emotional Blackmail and Retake Control of Your Life
- Jealousy in Relationships: Signs, Causes, and Solutions
- 6 Signs of Manipulation in a Relationship (and 16 Manipulator Tactics)
- 23 Signs of Codependent Behavior in a Relationship
- 11 Signs of a Toxic Relationship You Do Not Want to Ignore
- 14 Ways Self-Centered People Make Our Lives Miserable (and How to Keep Them Away)
- 18 Guaranteed Signs of Cheating: How to Confirm Your Suspicions
- Signs of an Emotionally Unavailable Partner and How to Manage Him
- Everything You Should Know About the Signs of Love Bombing
- The Signs He Just Wants to Sleep With You: What to Do When a Man Wants Only One Thing
- 10 Signs Your Relationship Is Over (or Needs a Serious Fix)
- He Blocked Me Without Explanation: What It Means
- How to Know if a Guy Is Playing You or Really Likes You
- 31 Disturbing Signs of Gaslighting in a Relationship
- 11 Signs He’s Losing Interest: How to Know and What to Do
- 11 Early Signs of a Controlling Man: Never Ignore These Red Flags
- Recognizing the Signs He Only Wants You for Your Body
- If He Likes Me, Why Is He Still Online Dating? Find Out Why
- Why Is He Ignoring Me? Possible Reasons and What to Do
Resources for Further Support
Relationships get complicated, and sometimes you need more than just advice from your group chat.
Some of you may just now be starting out in the world of romance, so check out our collection of articles about getting into a relationship. Parents, you can help your teens as they dip their toes into the dating pool with our resources for parents.
If this isn’t your first rodeo, though, and you’re navigating a current romance, our guides to being in a relationship can help you make sure it’s a safe, healthy, and fulfilling one.
Not all relationships are safe and healthy, unfortunately. That’s why it’s important to understand the complexities of dating and relationship abuse. Our Community Tools & Training page is packed with trusted support links and help when you need it most. No judgment here — just real talk and real help.
Sometimes, you try to connect with someone and it just doesn’t work out. Don’t worry — there are plenty more fish in the sea than ever came out of it. Work through your breakup with our guides to ending a relationship.
We can help you move on with dignity and hope, so you’re ready for your next romantic adventure.