Teen life is not just grades and trends. It is friendships, group chats, dating pressure, cyberbullying, emotional safety, tiredness, body signals, and trying to figure out who is really good for you.

This TeenThreads guide covers toxic friendships and bullying, relationship red flags, and fatigue and low energy — because your emotional world and physical health are connected.

Important: This page is educational. If you feel unsafe, threatened, controlled, extremely tired, faint, or unable to cope, talk to a trusted adult, school counselor, doctor, or crisis support service.

Quick Jump

• Toxic Friendships & Bullying
• Relationship Red Flags
• Fatigue & Low Energy
• Boundary Scripts
• When to Get Help Now
• 20 Quiz Questions

Often normal:

• Friend groups changing over time
• Occasional disagreements
• Feeling tired after a busy week
• Needing personal space
• Learning how to communicate boundaries

Get support soon:

• A friend or partner makes you feel scared, controlled, or constantly guilty
• Someone threatens, humiliates, isolates, stalks, or pressures you
• Cyberbullying keeps happening or private information is being shared
• Fatigue is constant, extreme, or comes with dizziness, fainting, chest pain, or weight changes
• Your mood, school, sleep, or safety is being affected

Friendships should not feel like emotional survival. A friendship can have conflict and still be healthy — but if someone repeatedly manipulates, humiliates, excludes, threatens, or controls you, that is not “just drama.”

Signs of a toxic friendship

• They make jokes that hurt and then say you are “too sensitive”
• They guilt-trip you for having other friends
• They only contact you when they need something
• They spread rumors, screenshots, or private messages
• They pressure you to do things you are uncomfortable with
• You feel drained, anxious, or “on edge” around them

Bullying vs conflict

• Conflict: disagreement between people with similar power.
• Bullying: repeated unwanted behavior with power imbalance, fear, humiliation, or control.
• Cyberbullying: bullying through texts, group chats, social media, gaming chats, photos, posts, or DMs.

How to handle cyberbullying safely

• Do not respond when emotions are high
• Take screenshots and save evidence
• Block/report the account or content
• Tell a trusted adult, school counselor, or platform safety team
• If threats are involved, get help immediately

Healthy boundary examples

• “Do not joke about me like that.”
• “I’m not sharing private screenshots.”
• “I need space from this conversation.”
• “If you keep insulting me, I’m leaving.”

Learn more:
StopBullying.gov – Bullying and Cyberbullying
CDC – About Bullying
MedlinePlus – Bullying and Cyberbullying

Dating should not feel like walking on eggshells. A healthy relationship includes respect, honesty, space, trust, and consent. A red-flag relationship can feel exciting at first, then slowly becomes controlling, stressful, or unsafe.

Healthy relationship signs

• You can say no without fear
• You are allowed to have friends and interests
• They respect your boundaries
• They do not pressure, threaten, or monitor you
• Disagreements do not turn into insults or fear

Red flags

• They demand passwords or check your phone
• They track your location or constantly ask where you are
• They isolate you from friends or family
• They pressure you sexually or emotionally
• They threaten to leave, expose you, or hurt themselves to control you
• They blame you for their anger
• You feel scared to be honest

Controlling behavior can sound like

• “If you loved me, you would…”
• “Why are you talking to them?”
• “Send proof.”
• “I’m only doing this because I care.”
• “You made me act this way.”

What to do if a relationship feels unsafe

• Tell a trusted adult or counselor
• Do not meet alone to “fix it” if you feel afraid
• Save threatening messages
• Make a safety plan
• Use trusted dating abuse support resources

Learn more:
Youth.gov – Teen Dating Violence
CDC – Teen Dating Violence
Love Is Respect – Dating Abuse Support
Office on Women’s Health – Dating Violence

Feeling tired sometimes is normal. But constant low energy is a body signal. It can come from poor sleep, stress, not eating enough, dehydration, anemia, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid issues, depression, anxiety, infections, or medical conditions.

Common lifestyle causes

• Not enough sleep
• Irregular sleep schedule
• Skipping meals
• Low protein or low iron intake
• Too much caffeine or energy drinks
• Stress and burnout
• Too much screen time late at night

Possible medical causes

• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Thyroid problems
• Sleep disorders
• Depression or anxiety
• Chronic infections or inflammatory conditions

Possible anemia signs

• Extreme tiredness
• Dizziness or feeling faint
• Shortness of breath with normal activity
• Fast heartbeat
• Pale skin
• Headaches
• Heavy periods can increase iron loss

What helps

• Protect sleep and wake times
• Eat regular meals with protein and iron-rich foods
• Drink water consistently
• Get sunlight and movement when possible
• Ask a clinician about labs if tiredness is constant

Learn more:
MedlinePlus – Fatigue
MedlinePlus – Anemia
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements – Iron
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements – Vitamin D
NHS – Iron Deficiency Anemia

• Friend boundary: “I’m not okay with being talked to like that.”
• Group chat boundary: “Do not post private stuff about me.”
• Dating boundary: “I don’t share passwords or location to prove trust.”
• Pressure boundary: “No. I’m not changing my answer.”
• Exit line: “I’m leaving this conversation now.”
• Help line: “I need an adult involved because this is not safe.”

• You are being threatened, stalked, pressured, or controlled
• Someone is sharing or threatening to share private images or information
• Bullying or cyberbullying is affecting your safety or mental health
• You feel afraid of a partner, friend, or peer
• Fatigue is extreme, persistent, or comes with fainting, chest pain, breathing trouble, or rapid weight changes
• You feel unsafe or unable to cope

If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number now.

• StopBullying.gov
• CDC – Bullying
• CDC – Teen Dating Violence
• Youth.gov – Teen Dating Violence
• MedlinePlus – Bullying and Cyberbullying
• MedlinePlus – Fatigue
• MedlinePlus – Anemia
• HRSA – Find a Health Center

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 — https://988lifeline.org/
• Love Is Respect: dating abuse support — https://www.loveisrespect.org/
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 — https://www.crisistextline.org/
• Find low-cost health care: HRSA Find a Health Center

1. What is a toxic friendship?
   Answer: A friendship that repeatedly makes you feel controlled, disrespected, drained, or unsafe.
2. True or false: Conflict and bullying are always the same.
   Answer: False.
3. Name one sign of cyberbullying.
   Answer: Threats, rumors, humiliating posts, or sharing private messages/images.
4. What should you do with cyberbullying evidence?
   Answer: Save screenshots and report it to a trusted adult or platform.
5. Name one healthy boundary phrase.
   Answer: “I’m not okay with being talked to like that.”
6. True or false: A dating partner should demand your passwords to prove trust.
   Answer: False.
7. Name one relationship red flag.
   Answer: Controlling your friends, location, phone, or choices.
8. What is one sign of a healthy relationship?
   Answer: Respecting boundaries.
9. True or false: Love should feel safe, not scary.
   Answer: True.
10. Name one possible cause of fatigue.
    Answer: Lack of sleep, anemia, vitamin D deficiency, stress, or poor nutrition.
11. What nutrient deficiency can cause anemia?
    Answer: Iron deficiency.
12. Name one anemia symptom.
    Answer: Extreme tiredness, dizziness, pale skin, or shortness of breath.
13. Can heavy periods increase iron loss?
    Answer: Yes.
14. True or false: Constant fatigue should always be ignored.
    Answer: False.
15. Name one trusted resource for bullying help.
    Answer: StopBullying.gov.
16. Name one trusted resource for dating abuse help.
    Answer: Love Is Respect or CDC teen dating violence resources.
17. What should you do if you feel unsafe?
    Answer: Tell a trusted adult or call emergency support if immediate danger exists.
18. Can stress contribute to fatigue?
    Answer: Yes.
19. What should you do if fatigue comes with fainting or chest pain?
    Answer: Seek medical care quickly.
20. What is the TeenThreads main message?
    Answer: Safe relationships and body signals deserve attention and support.