I want to run away but have no where to go

[ccsmod4]

Reply: I'm a 5th grader

Hello,

Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

We are sorry to hear about your situation and the emotional pain it has caused you.

You don’t deserve to be abused by anyone. You are very brave to reach out to NRS. If you ever feel that you are at risk you could consider calling 911 for emergency assistance.

Getting abused is not your fault. You cannot control the actions of others.

You deserve to be treated fairly. Unfortunately things sometime might feel overwhelming and you are not sure what to do.

It sounds like you are thinking about harming yourself or ending your life. Your life has worth and our top priority is your safety. We are here to listen and support you in any way that we can, and we can help you find resources that can help you cope with these feelings.

You do not have to face this alone, there are support services we can try to connect you with.

If you are thinking about hurting yourself contact the National Suicide Hotline.

You can check them out at www.youmatter.suicidepreventionlifeline.org, or you can call 1-800-273-8255 for help and support any time. You can also call us 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or www.1800Runaway.org (live Chat) if you need to talk.

Try not to be hard on yourself. You took a nice step reaching out to NRS.

We are here to listen and here to help.

Let us know how we can help.

Take care,

NRS

[Guest]

I want to run away from home

I've been wanting to run away for a long time now but I am too emotional to even think of a plan...I am 16 years old and money is not a problem as I can get access to a credit card to keep me alive for a few months. I have lots of relatives iny country but I don't kniw if I can trust anyone of them to nit inform my parents if I do stay with them. My mom is on anti depressants and for the last 3 weeks it has been her excuse for every bad mood she is in. My dad has been working very hard lately and is barely at home and when he is we fight about every little thing. My younger sister is a total b*itch and I can not handle her rudeness anymore. She physically abuses me and with her violence is always the answer. I would want to lay a charge against her but I don'tknow how. She is the biggest reason why I would want to run away. I have several bruises on my body because of her. We fight over the smallest things but where I use words she always uses violence and as I am not a very fast runner I always get hurt. My parents do not do anything about the fact that she is violent although she has been to a psychologist before...in my opinion it didn't work.

I need advice as to where I could go and how to know who I can trust.

[ccsmod6]

Hello, thanks for reaching out to us at NRS. It sounds like you’re in a pretty stressful living situation, particularly with your sister’s violence towards you. Know that you do not deserve to be physically abused by anybody and it is your right to reach out for help. Depending on your state, sibling abuse may or may not be considered a legal matter; however, it could be helpful to contact the National Child Abuse Hotline (800) 422-4453 to see if they can provide services, more information, support specific to this issue.
In regards to your question about where you can go, one thing to keep in mind is that if your parents did file a runaway report, if you were to stay with an adult, they could get in trouble with the law for “harboring a runaway.” It wouldn’t be illegal, however, if your parents gave permission for you to say with them. Do you think that this would be possible for you? If not, and you are looking to run away, another option would be to stay at a shelter. Homelessshelterdirectory.org has a listing of shelters organized by city and state. You are also welcome to contact us at (800) 786-2929, as we have a database of different youth shelters. We are open 24/7, completely confidential, and here to explore what options might be available to you.
-NRS

[Guest]

I wanna run away but I have no where to go

I'm 14 and my life is ********. I live with my dad and 4 brothers and they always treat my like ******** for being the only girl. My dad physically and emotionally abuses me and I would go live with my mother or some relatives but they all hate me and that's mainly my dads fault. I can do it anymore I've tried suicide and everything but I don't want to die I just want to leave this hell I'm supposed to call home. I can't stay with any friends cause my dad says he'll get the police to come get me I just want to go somewhere its safe. I've been depressed, I have bipolar, I am bulimic and I have anxiety and my dad and my brothers say its because I'm disgusting and week but actually its their fault. I just wanna leave. Please

[ccsmod10]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on and how you have been feeling. We know it takes courage to share private matters like this and we’re here to help in any way we can.

It sounds like you’ve gone through so much and from what you’ve explained, it’s completely understandable why you need to get away from your dad. Abuse is never okay. You never deserve to be physically or emotionally abused. You have a right to report that abuse, if you wanted to. NRS can help you make a child abuse report or make one for you. There’s also Child Help (800) 422-4453, they are the National Child Abuse Hotline. You can report it with them as well. They also help youth find ways to get their custody transferred to safe adults or family members. If you’re close with any teachers or school personnel, they can also make the child abuse report.

Having to live in a house where you’re being hurt will definitely effect your mental health. You mentioned that you’ve tried suicide and have thoughts about wanting to die. Having those feelings and thoughts can be a really scary space to be in. We are truly grateful that you are still living and we want you to know that your life has worth, regardless of what your brothers or dad may say to you. Having depression or any of the other mental health diseases is never your fault, but they should be taken seriously. If you ever feel like those thoughts of wanting to end your life are getting to be too overwhelming, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us or call 911. Our safeline is open 24/7, so we are always a call away. If you don’t want to call the police, we can call with you and support you through the call. Another organization that is open 24/7 and that is a good place to get support when you’re having those feelings is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255 www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org . They also have a chatting service on their website.

If running away is the option that you decide to go with, we can explain a bit about that option. Running away is not illegal, if you runaway, your parents can make a runaway report. The police don't always actively look for you, if they come across you, then they usually bring you home. If you explain to them that home isn't a safe place to be, they don't always return you right away. They're supposed to investigate it first. We offer to call out to youth’s local police, with youth, to find out their protocols and what happens if runaways refuse to go home. So that option is always available as well. We can also help find runaway/youth shelters in your area, so you can stay safe.

Again, we are so thankful that you reached out. We want you to know that you’re not alone in this and you’ve been so strong so far. Please remember that your life has worth. We are always here and if you want to talk more about the options that we mentioned, or just need someone to talk to don’t hesitate to contact us.

Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

Im an 8th grader


I really want to runaway from my abusive mother. She beats me and calls me names.
I only have one friend and she is against running away. I know that I won't survive for long but as long as I am away from my mother I'll be happy.

[ccsmod7]

We are glad you are reaching out to us because we are here to help. You mentioned that your mom beats you and calls you names. No one deserves to be treated that way by anyone, even their mother. Both beating and calling you names can be considered abuse, and you have the option to report that abuse to Child Protective Services if you want. If you would like to talk to someone here at National Runaway Safeline (1-800-786-2929) we could help you think about your options and discuss what child abuse reporting looks like in your area. Another resource for discussing abuse and reporting is Child Help (1-800-422-4453), the National Child Abuse Hotline.


Every abuse report/case is different, but sometimes abuse reporting can lead to being removed from home and into a less abusive environment. You mentioned that you’ve talked to your friend about running away, but have you told anyone else about what is going on at home? A family member or another trusted adult? Sometimes having someone advocate for you during abuse reporting can help the process along.


If you don’t want to talk about abuse reporting or involve the police just yet, we can also talk to you about your living options if you choose to leave home. Have you thought about where you would go if you left? Your friend’s or relative’s house, perhaps? While we are not legal experts, we can let you know that running away isn’t illegal, but is considered a status offense until you are an adult. That means that if your parents file a Runaway Report with the police, they could charge anyone that you stay with with harboring a runaway and they could get in trouble. The charges can be different in every state, and might be a different situation if you’ve reported the abuse.


Sometimes, shelters can also be an option! While some require parent permission for minors to stay, we could help you find a shelter in your area that doesn’t require adult permission. Another resource that could help in finding a shelter is United Way at 211. They have information on shelters readily available in any given area.


As we mentioned, we are here to help. If you wanted to talk with us about your situation or wanting to bounce some ideas off of one of the liners here at National Runaway Safeline, we are here 24/7 days a week.


Best of Luck

[Guest]

I'm in 6th grade and I just switched schools so it is hard for me. I have had depression for a long time and I am trying to get better I feel so alone please help

[ccsmod4]

Reply: I'm in 6th grade

Hello,
Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

We appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on.
Some situations can be disappointing and even upsetting thus making things uncertain about what to do or where to turn. Changing schools can be quite hard.
We understand and we want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. It also sounds like you are having issues with depression.
Sometimes having a safe place to express your feelings can be helpful.

You did a good job by reaching out today.
We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. 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) or www.1800Runaway.org.

Again tell us what it is you would like us to help you with and we will be happy to explore some options with you.
NRS is here to listen and here to help.
We hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 13, and I'm grounded for a really long time because of something I did and I really regret it, I don't have my phone or anything so I don't know how I'm going to do this but I wanna run away if things don't get better by this week the I'm going to leave , I don't have anywhere to go though .

[ccsmod10]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out to us via our forum! We appreciate you taking the time out to explain a bit about the situation, we’re always here to help in any way we can.

You mentioned making a mistake and regretting it, but you’re still grounded for it. We’re human, so we’re always going to make mistakes, but they shouldn’t be held over your head. If you haven't, you could try talking to someone close to you about the way that you have been feeling. It’s super important to try to get help and have a good support system. You could consider talking to the school counselor, or another adult that you trust.

It’ understandable that you’re getting frustrated at home being isolated, and you’re wanting to get out of that environment. You said that you aren’t able to call into our safeline, we also have a chatting service via our website. You’re also able to email us. We’re non-directive, we can’t tell you what the right decision is. If you end up deciding that you do want to run away, you can’t be arrested for doing so. We have a database of runaway youth shelters, if you’re able to call into our safeline, maybe you can use a friends phone.

Another option that may be helpful for you, if you’re able to use someone’s phone, is our conference calling service. We call your parents together, and facilitate a conversation about the mistake you made. We can try to help you talk through some of these issues with them in a neutral way – and hopefully make them understand that you do regret the mistake you made.

In any case, we’re here 24/7 to listen and to help, so please call us if things get tough and you need to talk them out.

Be strong, NRS

[Guest]

I'm 12 and I want to run away, but I haven't been abused or anything like that. My emotions are very unstable and I have no one to talk to. I feel trapped in a shell and if I tell anyone, they will immediately say something. I can't stay, but I don't have anywhere to go because all shelters say either A. it's for abused youth or B. They immediately alert the parents. Is it possible to go to a shelter anonymously? And if so are there any shelters near tracy, CA

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you want to leave home but you aren’t sure where to go. Running away is not illegal, but if you decide to leave home without your parent’s permission, they could file a runaway report. With a runaway report if you the police find you they would return you home. Since you are 12, any youth shelter that you try to go to would have to notify your parents that you are there. It is against the law to harbor a minor/ runaway and it is very unlikely that you would be able to go to a shelter anonymously. You could try talking an adult that you trust such as a school teacher or counselor. You may also want to consider asking a relative if they would allow you to stay with them. You mentioned that you have no one to talk to, here at NRS our crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929) is 24 hours. We are always here to listen and help in the best way that we can. Please feel free to contact us directly through our crisis hotline, email, or live chat if you have any additional questions.

[Guest]

I belive I've emailed you.
I am going preeetty well, usually the stuff sparks down.
But...
Today, my brother and I were fighting over a glow in the dark green trident. I LOVE Percy Jackson. Soo.. I dropped it while thrusting it. My brother picked it up, and I grabbed it back. He ran down the hall, and soon I heard my mom coming. I was sitting on the bed at the time... She slammed the door open, held me down, and said: "WHO THE F*** DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" I ran up, as she yelled: "UNLOCK THAT DOOR!" As I scrambled to open the door. After that I thought: __F**k Percy Jackson...__ I kinda cried myself into a nap. My grandmother also held a grudge since she couldn't find her block of her charger. She's a clean freak, so she yelled at my to clean up my (dang) bathroom. A couple days before this, my mom got pissed at me for putting THREE water bottles into the inside fridge!! I cried myself to sleep. sleep that night. Well, gotta go, some cushions are soaking wet from outside. Bye!

[ccsmod0]

Hello, thank you for taking the time to write to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’re going through a rough time. It is understandable that you would want to leave a place where you are being threatened. It must be hard having to deal with your family not treating you fairly. You must be really strong to have been dealing with all of this for so long.
We’re sorry you’re going through this. We are not going to tell you that you should or should not runaway. We are here to try to provide you with support and resources so that if you do decide to leave home, you are doing it intelligently and safely. So if running away is something that you really want to do then you are more than welcome to give us a call and we can talk about all of your options and help you come up with a safety plan.
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. 1-800-786-2929
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello,

I'm 12 and want to runaway. My mom used to physically abuse me and now she verbally. She sometimes physically. I want to runaway but have now where to go. I'm homeschooled and am to scared to tell my friends about my mom abusing me. I really just want a place to stay but don't know where to go.

[ccsmod15]

Hi,
Thank you for reaching out. It sounds like things at home have been really difficult and it’s brave of you to look out for your own safety and well-being!
We’re so sorry to hear that your mother has been physically and verbally abusive. Please know that you absolutely never deserve to be treated that way. You might consider telling a trusted adult who help. That might be a local coach if you do any sports or a leader at your local religious organization, or a teacher or tutor if you use any outside instructors for homeschooling. You might also consider talking with one of your friends’ parents if you trust them or a relative. If none of these options work, you might also consider reporting the abuse on your own through the National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453.

Before you do decide to leave home, you might consider the following: where you might stay, if you have clothing for hot and cold weather, where you might get food, and how you might earn money. As far as a place to stay, you might consider living with a relative if you think your mom might be open to it. You should also be aware that if you do leave, your mother might choose to file a runaway report, so if you’re found you might be brought home; anyone who is found to be housing you might also be charged with “harboring a runaway.” These are all things to consider should you decide to leave home.

If you’d like to talk about your situation specifically, please feel free to reach out to us at the National Runaway Safeline: 1-800-786-2929. Our lines are open 24/7 to help you find resources or just lend a listening ear. Best of luck to you!

-NRS

[Guest]

I'm 13 years old

All my life I've always a skin disease and I'm always bullied at school for it, My mom never takes me to the doctors and doesn't give me any medicine for it. If I ask her "Can I go to the doctors to get medicine mom?" She comes up to my face and slaps me and starts yelling at me saying "You weak, useless little b****!, Go get your own medicine!" When I try to claim that I can't drive because the closest hospital is 4 hours away, she pulls my hairs and tells me to shut up. My dad sexually abuses me and my mom doesn't care. They force me to do what ever they say and I'm sick of it! I have a dog and she's the only reason that I'm still living in this house, and my parents threaten to get rid of her if I don't do what they say. I don't have much, I don't have any friends, I just have my dog, I'm afraid to run away because I don't know where to go or how I'll take care of my self and my dog, I'm very desperate to go, I'll do anything,as long as I don't have to live with those people anymore! PLEASE HELP!!!!

[ccsmod6]

Hi,

Thanks so much for taking the time to reach out to us tonight. It sounds like you're facing a really difficult challenge right now. No one deserves to be made fun of or bullied, especially for something like a skin disease. You are important and just because you have a skin disease does not mean you deserve to face any emotional abuse or mistreatment.

It is disappointing that your mother does not take things seriously and refuses to let you access any medical care. It is also never okay for her to hit you or your dad to sexually abuse you. You do not deserve to have these things happen to you. You deserve a safe and loving household where you can feel comfortable and safe from harm.

One option you do have is to report the abuse going on. You can either call into our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY and we can help you out with that, or you can talk to a trusted teacher, adult, or social worker at school and they can help you. The National Child Abuse Hotline is 1-800-422-4453 and you can call them anytime to ask questions about child abuse reporting or to report the abuse yourself. There is also an organization called RAINN, which stands for Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network. They can talk things through with you about whatever you may be feeling or thinking about the situation with your father. You deserve to have access to support systems.

If you need anything else, or just want to talk more about what you're going through, please don't hesitate to reach out to us again! We are here 24/7 so someone will always be here to answer and help you out in the best way that we can. As mentioned, our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY.

[Guest]

Hey umm im only 16 and i go to school and i have a job but i wanna go somwhere else rather being at home where i dknt belong so what do i do?

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you want to leave home. Unfortunately, we cannot tell you what to do because you are the expert in your life. You know what is best for you. You could ask your guardian if they would allow you to move in with another family member or close friend. You could also look into the process of emancipation. If there is abuse at home, you could report the abuse to Child Protective Services (CPS), they would conduct an investigation and if they find that you are unsafe at home they would remove you from the home. If you have any additional questions or just need to talk, please feel free to contact us directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), email, or live chat.

[Guest]

I’m 13 and I want to run away, I constantly get picked on and mentally abused by my mom, older sister, and nephew(he’s 16) I don’t know what to do with myself anymore I feel like I want to just go away where they can’t bother me. They always blame me for things that didn’t even do I feel hurt and they think it’s okay I’m scared and I don’t know what to do with myself anymore. I stopped eating and talking to them I try to limit myself from friends. I can’t take the pain anymore I just want to go....

[ccsmod9]

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like your relationship with your family – your mom, sister and nephew is extremely difficult. No one deserves to be hurt. If you feel that you are being abused, you have the right to make a report with Child Protective Services (CPS). Child Help USA is an information and referral line that can connect you with your local CPS abuse hotline. You can reach them at 1-800-422-4453.
Your internal feelings seem really strong and can be a loud voice, but know you are important and have value in this world. A few resources that can be helpful with the emotions of it all are To Write Love On Her Arms (twloha.org) and suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

It is okay you want to leave from this situation, we do not try to direct you either way, but we want to make sure you are safe and figure out how we can help you best. It is important just to be aware of and think about the consequences, plans, and next steps of leaving your home. We are non-directive at NRS, as you know what is best for you to bring and will help you feel comfortable.

If you get a chance to have access to a phone where you feel safe, please do not hesitate to call so we can talk about options of where you may go and what leaving home may look like (in addition to discussing the situation with at home). We are here to listen and here to help.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

Depressed

I really hate my life with my family.Especially my mom and sister .sometimes I want to kill myself but most times I want to run away.I thought about going to some child home or something but I don't know where or how to get there.I don't know how much longer I can live with them .i cry like 3 times a day.I wish I had another family.

[ccsmod10]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at NRS. It’s not always easy to ask for help, but we are here to listen and help the best way we can. It sounds like things at home are tough with your mom and sister. We are sorry to hear that you are going through this.

We want you to know that you don’t have to go through this alone. We are here to explore some safe options for you. Perhaps we can explore other living environments you can go to such as with another family member. If you are in need of a safe place to go to, we can also identify programs in your area that can help you. We understand that you are not wanting to live with your mom anymore. It sounds like you just want to live in an environment where you feel heard, loved, and supported.

If you feel like you might want to do self-harm, you can always call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Your safety and well-being are very important.

We look forward to your call or chat soon. Be safe and take care!

NRS

[Guest]

im 14 and i have a plan to runaway in the summer so i have time to get money my best friend and i are saving 1500 each and are getting a room with someone who is willing to rent it to us as long as we pay rent and our jobs are gonna be baby sit and clean houses we are planning to go to San Francisco and we are in California we have been planning this for a very long time and have everything ready but my only question is how to get to San Francisco cause all bus stops do let us go unaccompanied but they say that we have to have an adult when we arrive at our stop so we need hep with that problem

[ccsmod2]

Hello, thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline. We understand that it takes a lot of courage to seek help. It sounds like you have been thinking about running away for a while now. Having a plan is important when you are considering running away from home. Since you are a minor, if you leave home your parents have the right to file a runaway report. With a runaway report if the police find you, they would return you home. As you mentioned, it is difficult for you to travel to San Francisco because most forms of transportation require minors to be accompanied with an adult.We cannot say for sure which form of transportation would allow you to travel alone. You could contact us directly and we would try to get that information for you. Please feel free to contact us directly via our 24 hour crisis hotline (1-800-786-2929), email, or live chat.