I wanna run away but I don't know where to go.

[vicky]

I wanna run away. I can't take it anymore. I always get the blame it feels like for everything my sister says or does. I'm 17 in 25 days, and my mom treats me like i'm a kid. I really don't know what to do. I do self harm because it takes away some of my pain. I take counseling but I don't really tell her anything. I don't really have anyone to talk to. Just feels like if I left home it would be so much easier. My mom and my sister seem to use me as a stress re-leaver, when they are mad they use me to take it out on. My best friend don't really know what to say to it. If I run away how do I get a job? Is there a place i can go that will help me continue my life? Is there a place near where I live that can help me finish school and get into collage?

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to us and telling us what is going on. It was very brave of you to do that and hopefully, we can provide you with some resources. Unfortunately, we aren’t legally trained so we wouldn’t be able to tell you what would happen if you were to leave home.

We are sorry to hear that you get the blame for what your sister does and that they use you as a stress reliever. You said that you see a counselor but you don’t really talk to her about what is going on at home. Could you tell us more about that? It sounds like you try talking to your friend about it but she doesn’t know what to say either. We are sorry to hear that and we’re glad that you have told us about it.

You said that you harm yourself to take away some of your pain. There is a website, To Write Love on Her Arms (www.twloha.com) that may be able to provide you with some resources and as a place to talk with others about how you are feeling. Are there things that you enjoy that also help you to feel better?

Since we aren’t legally trained here, we wouldn’t be able to tell you if you would be able to get a job or how to do that. Since you are under 18, you are still considered a minor and your mom may have the option of filing a runaway report with the local police. Do you think she would do that? If she did, if they located you, they could either take you home or contact her and let her know that they have you.

It sounds like you are interested in a shelter or other safe place to go and we may be able to help you locate one. Now, just so you know, shelters are usually required to contact your legal guardian to gain consent for you to stay there. But, that is something that we can explore further if you were to call us. We can help you locate a shelter and try calling them to see what their policies about youth are. If you would like to explore this further, please give us a call. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We also have online chat that is available from 4:30 PM-11:30 PM (CST), 7 days a week. You can find the chat on our website (www.1800runaway.org).

We look forward to hearing from you and wish you the best of luck.

~NRS

[Unregistered]

im 13

im 13 and me and my friend are going to runaway.. were done with the bs we have to go through with our families.. -.- any suggestions where we should go??

[ccsmod11]

re: I wanna run away but I don't know where to go.

Hi,

I am glad you are reaching out to us, and we are here to help in anyway that we can. What kind of "BS" are you going through? Also, this link has some questions that you might want to consider before you do run away, http://www.1800runaway.org/Should-I-Run-Away/. If you would feel comfortable calling us, you can call our 24-hour hotline, 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929), or you can contact us via our online chat service at www.1800runaway.org. It is open from 4:30 pm- 11:30 pm CST.

-NRS

[Unregistered]

Parent issues

My parents are giving a really hard time they don't understand what its like being a teenager here because they were raised different. And just because im the youngest daughter they over react and act too extreme especially when it comes to them finding out I had sex with my boyfriend! We both know the consequences and we protect ourselves and we get check up but to my parents it seem to be the end of the world just because they're religious and believe sex is for when your married only! And its hard to talk to them cause there both hard headed and stubborn. And they want to kick me out to live with my boyfriend because im in living in sin which I know cause I read the the bible and stuff but I wish they can more understanding like other parents are.

[ccsmod6]

re: I wanna run away but I don't know where to go.

Hi

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We are sorry to hear about what you are going through with your parents. It sounds like trying to effectively communicate to your parents can be difficult and frustrating. It is unfortunate that your parents are not trying to hear you out. It sounds like you would like for your parents to be more understanding and remain at home. We are sorry to hear that your parents want to kick you out because you are having sex. It doesn’t sound like kicking you out is really going to solve anything. It is understandable that your parents may have rules for their house. It is also understandable that parents want the best for their children and sometimes this is not seen eye to eye. Generally speaking, a lot of parents do want their children to wait until marriage for sex or at least until they are over the age of 18. It sounds like you may have tried to discuss your feelings to your parents. Have you and your parents ever attended family counseling before? Sometimes family counseling can help address the same issues from different perspectives.

If you want to remain within the house, we hope you are able to do so. If you are unable to remain there or are in need of somewhere safe to go, we may be able to assist. Youth shelters are available depending on your age and location. If you feel unsafe, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. In addition to helping you locate resources, we can also provide support, a listening ear, and the option to conference call referrals as well.

We hope to hear from you and would like to wish you the best of luck. Remember that we can be reached by dialing 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). Our hotline is toll-free, anonymous, confidential, and available 24/7. We can also be reached via live chat between 4:30pm and 11:30pm CST.

Best Wishes
~NRS

[Guest]

im 16. I want a new life away from here. All I feel is numb and suicidal, my boyfriend doesn't make me happy anymore, I have no friends at all, my family is abusive as ******** . I don't have anywhere to go and i just want to pack my bags and start over, better than killing myself right? like what the ******** is the point of being around toxic people, I'm not happy here.

[Guest]

I’m 15 and I wanna run away. I’ve did it before but this time I wanna be gone for a few days. My mom and siblings stay with my aunt because we got evicted out of my house and I just hate living here. I hate the condition it’s in and I always get in trouble and cursed out. My mom told my aunt that I need to see a therapist and my aunt was like I don’t need to see a therapist I just need a good old fashion whooping. Every time I get on the phone with my boyfriend my aunt always say I needa get off the phone and do something productive with myself. They should make a place for teens who wanna clear there minds and get away. If I get in trouble or yelled at again I’m picking my things and leaving. Any suggestions on where to go?

[ccsmod4]

Reply: I’m 15 and I wanna run away.

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS).

We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on.
We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
Transitioning to living with someone else can be difficult. We understand your frustrations about living with your aunt. If you would like to talk more about your situation and explore some options, we can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance.

Again if you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

i hate my life and i wanna run away. my life is ********ty as ******** and ive honestly lost hope in living i dont see a point ive tried so many times and always fail guess im bad at that too. right now i wanna die but i dont wanna hurt my family my boyfriend, baby sister, and mom to be specific. life just isnt for me. im always the one to blame, they keep trying to tell me im bipolar or depressed, i have anger issues its always me its always my fault. im not doing the best in school all Fs and one C+ i think. im honestly just thinking i should just kill myself n get it over with.

[ccsmod1]

Thank you so much for reaching out to us. It sounds very frustrating to be blamed for things that aren’t your fault. It takes a lot of strength and courage to reach out and share the way you feel. We’re here to support you in any way that we can.

You said that you having been considering suicide, we care a great deal about your safety and think it might be a good idea to reach out to some other agencies for additional support. Handling suicidal thoughts on your own can be hard, and you don’t have to deal with this by yourself; you can always reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to their website at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org if. If you’re interested in learning more about mental health or want to talk with someone to explore some of the feelings you’ve been experiencing you can talk to someone from the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) at 1-800-950-NAMI or online at www.nami.org.

It would be a good idea to think about options that may be available to you. You could think about reaching out to a teacher or a school counselor. It sounds like you care a lot about your family; maybe you’d feel comfortable talking to a family member about all this. If you’d like to go into more depth about this all or have someone to brainstorm ideas with you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat us by going to our website www.1800runaway.org. We’re 24/7, toll-free, and we’re always here to listen and to help.

-NRS

[Guest]

I’m a kid I only ran away one time. It was a week ago. I wanna do it again but this I wanna go far. I wanna be in Los Angeles but I don’t know where to go? I just need help with family

[ccsmod3]

Thanks so much for reaching out to us, since we know how difficult that can be. It takes a brave person to ask for help, and we're glad you did.

You must be going through a lot with family to be thinking about running away. You mentioned you ran away a week ago, and we hope you're in a safe spot right now. We would be happy to talk with you more about your family issues and can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929. If you need a local shelter we can help with that also. We can talk about what's going on at home and some options. If you have other family to talk to, that might be helpful, or a school counselor also. Taking your mind off what's going on at home can help a lot too, with things like music, movies, and sports.

In terms of leaving for Los Angeles, we aren't legal experts here, but if you do leave home as a minor, while it's not illegal in most states it is considered a status offense and you could be returned home. It sounds like you're thinking through where you would stay which is important, since we want you to be safe. Some other things you would want to think about are school, if you're still in school, and maybe things you could do at home to make things better.

If you call into our crisis center at the number I mentioned, we could give you some shelter options in Los Angeles if that is the route you're thinking of going. Just keep in mind with staying in a shelter, many only allow you to stay a couple days if they know you have a family and home, but again we don't know your exact situation at home.

[Guest]

I wanna run away so bad. My mom always finds a way to get mad at me and I don't have any siblings who can take the heat off of me. Somehow everything is my fault and I ruined her life. She has told me since I was little that she hates kids. I don't know what to do. I wanna have a good life and go to school and everything but I don't know how much I can take of this

[ccsmod15]

Hi. Thank you for reaching out to us. We’re sorry to hear you’re living in such a difficult situation. It’s hard having a parent that doesn’t provide a warm, welcoming environment for you and who unfairly takes things out on you.
It’s easy to feel isolated in that type of situation and that there’s nobody you can turn to. Running away can be hard and it can be helpful to think about where you might stay and how you might pay for food, rent and other living expenses.
You did the right thing by reaching out. We’re here and ready to listen 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY or via chat at 1800runaway.org. We can talk more about your living situation, ways we can help and discuss any options that may be available for you. Any of our hotline operators will be more than happy to speak to you.
Please contact us when you’re ready. You shouldn’t have to feel that way in your own home. We’re looking forward to hearing from you and wish you the best in the meantime.
-NRS

[Guest]

So the other night I snuck out ... I know supid I was doing soooo good but I'm a teen I'm going to ******** up sometimes . Me and the guy ya know was chilling so we started to have sex .. I guess someone called the cops ... And they put it in as a suspicious vehicle so the cops came and mind you I'm a minor he isn't . So hours passed my mom came and she's calling me a slut , a whore asked me did he pay me and that I'm dumb and she wants me to runaway so I'm tired of the ******** fr fr I'm bouta just walk out .. I can't call DCF , I can't call CPS . Even though it has been times where she has giving me a swollen eye , busted up lip , knots on my head .. she took my phone away . At school the other day I had a anxiety attack so I was saying I wanna kill myself so they called a Suicide Hotline out to the school . When they called her she said oh I'm being extra and that she can't pick me up .. soon as I got home from school she said oh you don't have to run away you can just leave and never come back . I'm so tired of living this way

[ccsmod7]

Hi. Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline and sharing part of your story with us.

It sounds like you’re experiencing some very challenging situations that may have been triggered from your home life. Swollen eyes and busted lips sounds like abuse and this information can be reported to CPS. If you need support or help doing this please do not hesitate to give us a call at any time. Abuse of any kind is terrible and can be a traumatic experience and we want you to know that you don’t deserve that. It can be heartbreaking to know that when you are in need of support that your own mother isn’t there to offer you that support. It’s understandable why you would feel tired and ready to leave. It may be important information to know that because you are still a minor if your mother kicks you out the house this is also considered neglect and something you can also report to CPS.

If you are in need of any shelter resources or need any additional emotional support please feel free to reach back out to us via phone at 1800-runaway or come chat with us at 1800runaway.org.

[Guest]

I can take this constant feeling anymore.... I feel if I don’t run away then I just won’t be here...

[ccsmod7]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now. It sounds like you’re fearing that the situation may end in you not being here anymore. Your safety and well-being is important. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255); www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org is also a great resource to reach out to in addition to our crisis services.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. This may be an isolating and lonely time for you, but you are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon. Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe and stay strong,

NRS

[Guest]

i messed up in school and my mom told her boyfriend she didn't want me and that i made her want to kill herself and i just want to be able to leave because its making me feel so depressed

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,

You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. The easiest way to leave home is with your mom’s permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your mom. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Be safe,

NRS