Gen Z Confessions: I Stayed in a Situationship for a Year

Introduction – I Didn’t Know What We Were, But I Stayed Anyway

“So are we like…talking-talking, or just…vibing?”

— I am rereading our texts for the 7th time at 2 a.m.

Have you ever found yourself stuck in an endless talking stage, questioning whether you’re simply overthinking or being subtly manipulated emotionally? Indeed, I have experienced the same situation. This is one of those Gen Z confessions that’s hard to say out loud: I stayed in a situationship for a year. There’s no specific designation for it. There is no DTR. Just vibes… and a whole lotta emotional confusion.

Call it a Gen Z situationship, call it modern romance, or blame it on commitment anxiety and dating app fatigue—but it’s real, and so many of us are stuck in it. It’s not a deep study from far away. It’s about you. Messy. Plus, maybe a little too real.

So if you’ve ever been almost-something to someone who gave just enough to keep you hooked, pull up a chair. You’re not the only one.

What Is a Situationship, Really? Why Gen Z Can’t Stop Falling Into Them

A situationship is like dating’s weird in-between two people—not quite single, but definitely not exclusive. You text each other every day, maybe hook up, or even cuddle, but there’s no name. No DTR (Define The Relationship) convo. There’s a perplexing, continuous conversation phase in which you sense a connection, yet you secretly understand it’s not.

You may want to check out this post: 10 Journal Prompts Gen Z Is Using to Focus and Thrive

In modern dating, especially for Gen Z, this phase isn’t rare—it’s the norm. Thanks to dating apps, it’s easy to have three “maybes” on standby. And with social media? When people first start dating, they use a vague elbow in their story to send just the right amount of a vibe check to keep you guessing.

Add in ghosting, breadcrumbing, and emotional unavailability, and you’ve got the recipe for a full-on Gen Z situationship. It’s dating without labels, love without clarity, and attention without commitment.

And yep—we’re falling into it over and over again.

You may want to read: Why Gen Z Is Tired of Dating Apps and Swipe Culture

From Soft Launch to Slow Fade—How My Situationship Began

“He never called me his girlfriend, but he didn’t want me talking to anyone else either.” — Me, trying to explain the unexplainable to my best friend.

It started like most Gen Z love stories do: a DM reply to a story. After one fire emoji, we were flirting every day. We experienced the classic talking stage vibes—long convos, shared playlists, and those 1 a.m. “wyd” texts that make you feel chosen.

Then came the soft launch: a picture of us at Starbucks, with only his hand included. There are no tags. There are no subtitles—not enough to be certain, but just enough to hint.

We hung out a lot. We had sleepovers, exchanged “good morning” texts, and kept his hoodie in my closet. When I asked what we were, he said, “Let’s not destroy the mood.”

Spoiler: the vibe was already ruined.

What felt like love was just breadcrumbs wrapped in relationship ambiguity.

It all started to fade away slowly.

You may like to check out this post: How Gen Z Builds Emotional Maturity in Love and Real Life

I Ignored Every Red Flag Because I Was Hoping He’d Choose Me

“There was always just enough attention to keep me hoping, but never enough to feel secure.”

Looking back, the red flags weren’t subtle—they were practically neon. But when you’re in a toxic situationship, you learn to ignore what hurts if it means staying close to the person who keeps confusing your heart.

He’d hit me up with last-minute plans, like I was an afterthought. It felt good to get a text at 11 p.m. asking, “Are you up?” There were no check-ins, no real talks, and communication that barely scratched the surface. But I continued to hold onto hope in some way.

Following three days of silence, every voice note, compliment, and expression of “I miss you” seemed to serve as mere breadcrumbs—small gestures of attention just as I was on the verge of disengagement.

That’s the trap of emotional confusion. When you’re craving love, even the bare minimum feels like more than nothing.

It took me a while to believe that “almost” was good enough.

You may like to check out this post: How Micro-Mance Dating Became the Gen Z Love Shortcut

The Breaking Point—When I Realized I Was Just Filling the Silence

“I stopped asking where we stood because I was scared of the answer.”

There was no dramatic fight, no official goodbye. One evening, he left my message unread for two days in a row, but I didn’t feel any anger. I was weary. I was tired.

You may want to check out this post: Self-Worth in Dating: Choose Real Love, Not Situationships

That’s when it hit me: I wasn’t in love. I realized that I was experiencing dating burnout—feeling numb from the prolonged waiting and exhausted from pretending to be content in a low-effort relationship.

We weren’t growing. We were not making progress. I was just a warm body on the other end of his boredom, filling the silence when he needed attention. And honestly? The loneliness I felt while lying next to him was worse than being by myself.

This is the stress of situationships. You maintain a façade of strength, give your all, and present a composed demeanor, yet internally, you yearn for clarity that you understand will remain elusive.

That’s when I felt the emotional detachment kick in. It was mine this time.

You may want to read: Emotional Boundaries in Dating That Save Your Love Life

Gen Z Situationships and Mental Health – It’s Not Just in Your Head

Situationships mess with your head—and no, you’re not being “too emotional.”

A 2025 study by The Journal of Adolescent Health found that 65% of Gen Z reported increased anxiety and self-esteem issues linked to undefined relationships and emotionally unavailable partners. Constant second-guessing, confused signals, and never having the “What are we?” conversation—it takes its toll.

Dr. Morgan Taylor, a therapist and creator on TikTok (@therapywithmorg), says,

“Situationships keep your nervous system in fight-or-flight mode. You’re stuck between hope and heartbreak, constantly bracing for rejection.”

This phenomenon is more than simply modern love; it’s modern emotional exhaustion.

Our generation grew up with ghosting, breadcrumbing, and commitment anxiety baked into our dating culture. So it’s no surprise that our emotional well-being feels like a rollercoaster with no seatbelt.

Mental health in dating isn’t a side note—it’s the whole thing. And pretending like everything is fine when it’s clear it’s not? That’s hurting us more than we think.

You may want to read: Identity Crisis in Gen Z: How to Find Yourself in Chaos

Healing From a Situationship That Wasn’t Real—But Felt So Real

“I didn’t lose a boyfriend. I lost the fantasy of who I thought we could become.”

When it ended—well, when it fizzled—I didn’t even cry right away. I felt empty. It was not because I missed him but rather because I had constructed my entire life around a “maybe,” a half-love. I experienced a genuine emotion, yet it was never returned.

But here’s the thing: healing from a situationship isn’t about getting over him. It’s about getting back to you. I began writing in my journal again. I responded to red flags through self-reflection rather than self-blame. I turned down his stories. I wore lipstick because I felt like it. As time went on, I stopped romanticizing the bare minimum.

This process isn’t just about moving on—it’s about unlocking that main character energy.

So here’s what helped:

• Blocking without guilt

• Writing letters I never sent

• Reminding myself that love isn’t supposed to be confusing.

• Reclaiming my peace like it was stolen (because it kinda was)

Situationship recovery tips aren’t magical. You own them, though. One honest step at a time, they work.

You may want to check out this post: Gen Z Family Issues No One Talks About—How to Cope

What I Learned About Love, Labels, and Letting Go

“Being chosen shouldn’t feel like a maybe.”

Here’s the truth: love shouldn’t leave you guessing. It shouldn’t make you shrink yourself just to stay in someone’s life. And you shouldn’t feel like you’re trying out for a part you’ll never get.

Staying in that situation taught me the hardest lesson: uncertainty isn’t romantic—it’s exhausting.

Sure, I made relationship mistakes. I ignored red flags. I took bits even though I wanted the whole cake. But I also changed how I felt. I realized that Gen Z relationship goals aren’t about vibing with someone who gives you mixed signals. To be honest, to show respect and want the same things, you have to say them out loud.

So if you’re stuck in that gray area, let me say this:

• You deserve more.
• Not almost. Not someday. More.
• Gen Z doesn’t seek perfection in love.

It makes sense. Safety. Someone who immediately declares, “I choose you,” is truly remarkable.

You may want to check out this post: Gen Z Women Dating Older Men: Pros, Cons, and Real Stories

Gen Z Confessions – In this gray area, you’re not alone.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a “situationship” that wasn’t quite love but still managed to break your heart, you’re so not alone.

So many of us are walking around with unspoken stories, trying to make sense of connections that never had a name. It doesn’t make you weak to share them; it makes you real. Being vulnerable to harm is a sign of authenticity. Human.

Here are a few real stories about situationships from others who’ve been precisely where you are:

“I stayed because it hurt less than starting over.” – Anonymous, 22

“We talked every day. He just never introduced me to his friends.” – Kayla, 19

“He said we were just chilling. I was planning our future.” – Mason, 20

“I kept waiting for him to call me his. He never did.” – Priya, 21

If you’re ready to start confessing relationship mistakes or just want someone to say, “Yeah, I felt that too,” drop your story. You can use this spot.

We can heal together more effectively in this gray area.

Final Thoughts—You Deserve More Than “Almost”

“If it feels like you’re constantly guessing, it’s probably not love.”

Let’s be real—Gen Z situationships aren’t just “a phase.” They mess with our heads, our hearts, and our sense of self. What was the hardest part? They almost feel like they’re in love. Almost. But almost doesn’t hold your hand when you’re overthinking at midnight.

This is one of those Gen Z confessions that hurts to admit: we stay in limbo because the fear of letting go feels heavier than the pain of staying. But here’s the truth: you weren’t too much. They did not give enough.

• You deserve clarity, not constant confusion.
• You deserve a “yes,” not a “let’s see where this goes.”
• You deserve someone who shows up, not someone who keeps you guessing.

So if you’re stuck in “almost,” this is your permission to want more.

Real love doesn’t feel like a test. It’s safe.

What about you? You’re worth choosing fully.

Read more on “Talk Gen Z” and drop your story or question in the comments. We’re building realness, one voice at a time.

FAQs – Situationships Unfiltered