I want to run away but have no where to go

[Guest]

i dont know how this works but ok-
i walk to run away from my family because they dont like that im pan. my parents told me i wasnt im only 12 you dont know yet when i do know. i plan on runnign away to a friends house and there are many problems for me..
1. i have diabetes how will i get my stuff
2. its a 6 hour walk to her house
3.our moms have eachother phone number
4.her mom if freaking about about the corona
5.i have a app on y phone called family link my mom can control my phone
6. i have to walk on the freeway people might call the cops on me
i really am scared but i dont want to like with people who dont like that im pan and saying im not pan

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

It was very brave of you to reach out to us here at NRS to ask for help. It sounds like you are in a really tough spot right now and you are not sure what your options are. . It can certainly be stressful at home when the adults in the household are not supportive.

From what you shared, it sounds like leaving home could be very unsafe for you since you won't have your needed medicine or a way to get to your friends house. If you do decide to leave, your parents can report you as a runaway to the police. Now, running away is not illegal, but it is a status offense. This means your parents can ask for help from the police to have you returned home.

It is understandable you want some space from people who are dismissive of your identity. There is an organization called the Trevor Project that supports LGBTQ youth. You can contact them at 1-866-488-7386 or go thetrevorproject.org to talk to an advocate. They also have an online community called Trevor Space where you can meet and talk to other young people in the LGBTQ community. Perhaps talking to a crisis counselor or other young people who have had similar experiences will help you brainstorm some strategies for talking to your parents about being pansexual and how to navigate this challenging situation.

We truly want to be a support for you as you decide on your next steps. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out again by phone or chat if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options. You can contact us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I want to run away. I’m 14 and idk where I would go yet... or if I should go. Kinda scared of the whole coronavirus spiel, but I also know I need to leave. My mom’s been in prison most of my life for the death of my cousin. My dad cares more about sleep than he ever did abt me and I’m so tired of it. My own parents don’t love me. I have one real friend but I could never tell her I’m leaving. I could never tell anyone.

Im a freshmen in high school. I can’t drive. Idk where I could go without consent of a legal guardian. I’ve thought about running away for a while, but should I go? I think I should but what abt this coronavirus?? I currently have 12 dollars saved up

[ccsmod16]

Hello,
Thanks for reaching out to us. It sounds like things are really hard for you right now. We’re so sorry that you’re feeling so overwhelmed. It sounds so hard with a parent in prison and feeling like the other doesn’t care what happens with you. Things are tough right now for sure with the coronavirus happening all over. It sounds like you’re in need of someone to talk to about what’s been going on.
We’re here for that. You can talk to us about your fears of running away. We can talk about your family and the issues you’re having with them too. We’re open to anything and want you to know that we won’t judge or tell you what to do. We’re here to listen to you and help in any way we can.
You can contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have a live chat here at www.1800runaway.org or you can call us on a phone at 1-800-786-2929.
Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hello, I’m 13 and want to run away, but only for a few days. Maybe a week. There’s nothing wrong with my life at home, but I want to see what it’d be like. Is this a good idea?

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are an adventurous young person and we understand how you want to run away for a little bit. While being independent and experiencing things on your own is important in growing up, running away can be very dangerous. We prioritize youth safety at NRS and we want to make sure that no matter what you choose to do, you are not in danger. Right now may not be the best time to try and go out on your own because of the pandemic virus that is currently spreading across the country. Out on the street alone is the most dangerous place for a youth to be and it is not any safer with the risk of getting sick. We would be happy to talk to you about what running away could look like or how you might want to go about running away maybe once things have returned to normal. If you’re interested in having that conversation with us, please don’t hesitate to call or chat us 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929 or 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I just want a break

My family just has so many problems, I dont think that my parents even love each other, but recently my dad had gambled all our savings away, and he had done this before, while my sister and I were still very young. He got into trouble with banks then and had to run away, and we were dragged all over the place, and had to sleep in cars and stay with friends on the floor. But as we grew older my mum kept hitting us, I just thought it was a normal disciplenary action, but the verbal abuse and the physical abuse of my sister, when she threatened to cut my sisters fingers off with a kitchen knife really scared me, becasue she took the knife and dragged my sister over to the chopping board. And now I’m at school hiding my feelings and pretending to be all happy and nice. And now my dad has returned to his habits and has been gambling again. And my mum took the blame on us again. Calling us useless and we are selfish, and telling us that she will divorce. I am 13 and my sister is only 11. When I was 11 and we were in the car listening to our parents threaten to kill each other and when we got home, they would throw things at each other and throw dishes really loudly. MY mum now drinks at least 3 beers everyday and gets angry easily, and now I flinch whenever she moves. HEr personality just changes every 2 seconds, going from nice to evil. So I think that se actually cares about me, but now she says she doesn’t care about us and we are useless ungrateful children. But what am I supposed to do, I’m only 13, how do you expect me to support my self. I ve been exposed to a lot of violence and its affected my personality and my life. She also just makes me play my violin all the time, and has such high expectations, and everytime I mess up she threatens to hit me. Shouts swear words and slaps. I just want a break from everything and go free. I dont want to have this pressure, I wish I was never born life is so unlovable. Now IM having thoughts about my sexuality and I think I’m lesbian now, but my dads family had always wanted a boy, and when we were born, they abandoned us, being very strict and traditional, Im just so scared, what do I do?!

[ccsmod8]

Hello there –

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline on our public forum. Hopefully by helping you and giving you support in your crisis, there are many other youth in your situation that can also be helped. No one deserves to be treated that way at all. Just know that you always have the right to report any abuse (physical, mental, sexual, or neglect/abandonment) to child protective service in your state. You have rights too. It can be really hard to reach out to report abuse or even talk about what has been going on at home. If you have any questions about the process or want to talk more about what the abuse might be, you can always reach out to us here to talk or chat.

Unfortunately, we can’t tell you want to do because you know your sitatuation better than anyone else. We are just hear to provide you with support and possible resources to reach out to in your area. One thing that may be helpful for you is to possibly note when the fighting/yelling is happening or any triggers of the fighting/yelling (some examples would be like after your abuser comes from work or after dinner and/or right when you get home) and to try to find things that can keep yourself away from home during those times (after school programs, sports program, study group at a friend’s house, getting involved in your volunteering, etc).

If you need us, please reach out via phone or online chat for more one on one support.

[Guest]

I want to runaway but i have nowhere to go im 3 hrs away from my family and friends im in a foster home theres things that are good here but im not happy i havent been happy ever since ive been here im tyring so hard but i dont know what to do no more

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are going through some intense stuff and we want to support you. Whether or not you feel like you need to run away is up to you and whether or not you feel safe where you are. We would be happy to help you in whatever way we can. We can provide referrals to mental health resources, shelters, legal advocacy, among other things. We can also just talk you through whatever your situation is and help you figure out what your options are. We aim to empower youths and we prioritize their safety and their well-being. If you are interested in anything that we have to offer, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 13 in less than a month
I hate my dad. He's treating me awful. He judges me on both my looks and my body and style. He thinks B's grades are really bad for our family. He wants to make me a doctor so I can have money. He abuses me a lot and hits me for no reason, even though he's a lot bigger than me. He has favoritism over my brother and LOVES him, but when I was my brother's age, he beat me up bad for getting C's and my brother is failing 1st grade, but my dad only beats both of us when he's annoyed with us or if his workload is too much and he takes all his anger from office and puts it on us. Even though I hate my dad, I LOVE my mom and my brother and grandparents from my mom's side. They're awesome and my mom sticks up for me, but he abuses my mom, too. She can't divorce, though, because it would kill my grandparents. So, should I run away or no? If yes, then I have no money, none of my friends would think running is good, so that's down the drain. I have nowhere to go, no family member would be willing to take me in, or friends for that matter. I have no money. No travel food, 1 backpack, and some clothes. Again, I'm turning only 13.

[ccsmod0]

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 seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
You mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. 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. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. 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).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

I want to runaway again but this coronavirus is out and I have no money and literally no where to go I just want someone to pick me up I don’t care who it is but I can’t stay here anymore I’ve attempted suicide because of the toxic people I’m living with I need help please I’m 14 years old any tips?

[ccsmod3]

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 suicide if things don’t change. 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. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. 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’m 14 and I’m turning 15 in 2 months I want to run away I did it 2 times and im taking my brother with me and he’s 13 my household is chaos I hate it here so much fights and yelling and cus of this coronavirus I don’t know if I can run away right now I have only $11 saved but that’s not enough we have no where to go I’m a freshman and I don’t even know how to drive but i want to steal my moms car or someone can pick me up I don’t care who it is I’m jus so ready to be out of here

[ccsmod0]

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 seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. 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).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

I'm 13 in less than a month
I hate my dad. He's treating me awful. He judges me on both my looks and my body and style. He thinks B's grades are really bad for our family. He wants to make me a doctor so I can have money. He abuses me a lot and hits me for no reason, even though he's a lot bigger than me. He has favoritism over my brother and LOVES him, but when I was my brother's age, he beat me up bad for getting C's and my brother is failing 1st grade, but my dad only beats both of us when he's annoyed with us or if his workload is too much and he takes all his anger from office and puts it on us. Even though I hate my dad, I LOVE my mom and my brother and grandparents from my mom's side. They're awesome and my mom sticks up for me, but he abuses my mom, too. She can't divorce, though, because it would kill my grandparents. So, should I run away or no? If yes, then I have no money, none of my friends would think running is good, so that's down the drain. I have nowhere to go, no family member would be willing to take me in, or friends for that matter. I have no money. No travel food, 1 backpack, and some clothes. Again, I'm turning only 13.

Hi. I'm writing again. I want a straight answer this time. Should I or should I not run away from my home? Again, I have no money and 1 backpack for food and clothes. I don't know anything about the world and don't even own a phone. I'm only 13.

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out again about your situation. Your safety is very important to us here at NRS. From what you mentioned, it sounds like the way your dad talks down to you and physically abuses you is making home not safe. We are a confidential and non-directive space for you and we are here to listen. While we do not give advice or tell you what to do, we can help you explore your options and decide what might be best for you and your situation. It looks like you have already reached out to us through our other platforms. If you have any more questions or you feel you like you want to talk more your options, you can reach out again anytime by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at 1800runaway.org. We are here 24/7 to listen and help.

If you feel like you are in immediate danger, we encourage you to call 911 for emergency services.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I want to run away I'm 14 years old and I live in Ohio. I might have a place to go but I don't have any money. My story is different, my big sister ran away because my mom would make her do all the chores and never buy her clothes and stuff like that. since my big sister runaway, I have basically replaced her. My mom yells at me to do chores but my sisters get to watch tv. I get the phone I bought with my own money taken away for no reason. My parents have been fighting lately because my mom cheated again. So right now I'm stressed and I have thought about running away since I was 11 when my parents found out I was cutting and quit eating. My mom was worried at first so she had me sent to Belmont pines and it helped to be away from home. Before I left for the hospital all my dad said was I was cutting for attention and he knew it. Then after I got out they shipped me to a different state to be with my grandparents and I liked it I wasn't bullied and they actually cared. When my mom found out I was happy she made me move back home and now my life sucks. I really am thinking of leaving I have a bag packed and I'm just trying to find somewhere to go.

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,
Thanks for reaching out to NRS it seems like you really have been through a lot. It seems like your parents are expecting you to care for the house so they don’t have to, which is unfair. Your parents should be more supportive of you and let you stay in a place that is safe for you and lets you be happy if possible. If you do need a safe place to go to we can help find a shelter or brainstorm other ideas with you.
You mentioned self-harm and we wanted you to be aware of https://twloha.com/ which is a resource offering hope and ways to cope in healthy ways. We also can help you find therapy resources in your area as well. Having a therapist to talk to and who is on your side can help you to work through your feelings.
You deserve to be in a place where you are supported and loved. If you want our help finding a shelter or something similar please reach out to our hotline at 1-800-786-2929 or chat with us online.

[Guest]

Hi, I’m a ten year old wanting to run away cause of my whole family they treat me like i have no worth in life and that I should just die and that I don’t deserve anything. But the thing is I have no where to go near me and I don’t know the perfect time to run.

[ccsmod15]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out to NRS, it seems like you have a lot going on at home and your family isn’t treating you how you deserve. You should have a family that is supportive of you and helps you grow as a person instead of putting you down.
If you need a safe place to go NRS can help find shelters near you and work with you to help you get into one. Although if you were to leave home before 18 your parents could file a runaway report and have police bring you back home. This doesn’t mean running away is a crime though so you wouldn’t be brought to jail or charged with something.
Hopefully this information helps. Again you deserve support and we want to be here to help you as best we can. If you want help finding a shelter please chat online or call our hotline at 1-800-786-2929.

[Guest]

I’m 16 I’m in foster care and I was removed from my adoptive home in August 2019 I’ve been in 7 Holmes in the past 8 months and I can’t take the foster system or state care anymore my family hates me because my dad molested me for years and I finally told cps my family thinks I’m lying and both my mom and dad were arrested where do I go please help me somebody has to know where I can go or what to do

[ccsmod8]

Hello there –

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline on our public forum. Hopefully by helping you and giving you support in your crisis, there are many other youth in your situation that can also be helped. No one deserves to be treated that way at all. It’s great and really brave of you that you were able to reach out for help and get removed from that situation. It can be really hard to reach out to report abuse or even talk about what has been going on at home because of what could happen.

Unfortunately, we can’t tell you want to do because you know your situation better than anyone else. We are just hear to provide you with support and possible resources to reach out to in your area. If you are interested in finding what types of resources we have in our database to offer you during this crisis you are more than welcome to reach out to us via out hotline or online chat. That way you can talk to us more about what is going on that is making you want to leave the foster care and see what other options you might have.

Hope to hear from you soon!

[Guest]

My parents dont abuse me or anything, its just that i want to take a break from all this madness! When i have my food or snacks my parents would tell me to sharewith me siblings when i say no they take away my ipad my food and dont come or care to cheer me up i hate my siblings i wish they were dead if anyone can help me find a way to run away plz help me btw im 11yo

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,

Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time, and we want you to know that you are not alone.
It is understandable to want to take a break, everyone gets frustrated sometimes. You could consider trying to talk with your parents about how you do not always want to share. Maybe they would be understanding if you tried having a calm conversation with them. Also one option to consider is to speak with a school counselor about how you are feeling, Even though many schools are closed right now, school counselors are still meeting with people virtually.
We know you mentioned wanting to run away, we are not legal experts but we do have some information. If you were to leave home without permission your legal guardian could file a runaway report. If the police were to find you they most likely would bring you home.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Hi, I am 20 and im trapped in my parent's house, im a disappointment, and im more of a burden. I am trying to get out of here and leave by the end of the week, I have a note written for my family and a few ideas. but I want a sure thing, are there any places I can go to? I live in Washington a bit above Seattle, I want to be safe but I can't be here anymore.

[ccsmod0]

Hey there,

Since you are 18 you are more than likely considered a legal adult which means that you can move out if you want to and you won’t be considered a runaway. As a legal adult, you have a right to make your own decisions about where you live. We can help you make a plan for how to deal with your situation and help you find resources to land on your feet. Having a plan for where you will live and how you will survive once you move out can be very helpful. Moving can be a huge step, and you don’t have to be alone. Some steps you can take towards independence might be to find employment if you don’t have an income, or to save up money for moving expenses. It can also be helpful to research rents in your area, find a roommate, or make a budget. Another thing you might want to consider is what kinds of things you depend on your parents for currently such as tuition expenses for school, or health insurance, and whether they would continue to provide those things after you leave. There may be social service agencies in your area that can help meet some of these needs, such as Transitional Living Programs, a kind of shelter where young adults can live and get services to help them transition to independent living. We are here to listen and help however we can.

Be safe,
NRS

Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

Hi, I'm a 6th grader who is 11.


I would really love to either run away or tell someone, for example my school therapist or teacher. I don't trust anyone as much as everyone else in the comments does, since I've been slapped and abused by my dad, mostly. This caused emotional pain to me since I used to cry myself to sleep every night. It's been hard for me to deal with my parents.
My story is very different from all the people posting their thoughts because my family is Jehovahs Witnesses, and I am one too. This makes it not easy for me to tell a school social worker, considering that I would be put into foster care. I absolutely wouldn't want to be put into foster care because I appreciate my religion and respect it. I don't think it would be easy for me to join a family who aren't Jehovah's Witnesses.
My health issues include a slight amount of asthma, year-round allergies, and genital itching.
As much as I would LOVE to commit suicide, I can't because my fears of dying are under-rated. And, I wouldn't be able to put a knife on my wrist and make several slices.
I used to have social issues in Elementary school and I would usually end up eating lunch on the empty side of the table.
I can't rely on using a friend's house for harboring a runaway cause my friends in school would chicken out, which makes it so that I couldn't go anywhere to run away. If I ran away though, I would probably not survive, with little money and not much packing supplies. Should I blame my abuse on myself and stay in my house? Or should I just rat out on my parents and get a stable family in foster care? Help!
Help!


I've already written a whole few paragraphs on my situation and I have one more question to ask. How would I get out of the house to go to foster care if we people in the U.S.A are trapped inside our homes quarantining ourselves from the Coronavirus?

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to NRS,
It seems like you are going through a lot and experiencing a lot of emotional pain because of how your dad treats you. Your dad should never slap and abuse you like that, and it makes sense that you want to talk to others about the situation.
Since you are a Jehovahs Witness and want to keep that as part of your daily life it makes sense to be worried about foster parents not helping with that. Is there a pastor or member of the church that you could tell about what is going on and they might be able to help?
School counselors are mandated reporters so they would need to report abuse if they feel it is happening. But they may have ideas for coping with social problems that you mentioned at school. Its ok to be alone during lunch, but feeling lonely sucks and getting help with that might help you to deal with the situation as a whole.
You mentioned suicide before and we want you to know that there is help out there if you ever feel those thoughts worsen. There is the suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Another option for getting help might be trying to see a therapist not related to your school. You could also do some research on your own about child abuse at childhelp.org, or about mental health at nami.org as well.
Hopefully this information is helpful for you. In answer to your last question the safety of children is still a priority for everyone through the COVID crisis, and is an essential service. CPS or DCFS may be slow right now but they are responding as they can or sometimes conducting some work over the phone.
If you have more questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to our online chat, or call our hotline at 1-800-786-2929.