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Idk just been feeling like not being here anymore from just everything
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Hi, thank you for reaching out to us at National Runaway Safeline. We appreciate and understand the courage it takes to reach out and let us know what is going on. It sounds like you have a lot going on right now and it is completely understandable to feel overwhelmed and unsure. It may be helpful for you to consider reaching out to us via chat or phone call so, we can learn a little bit more about your situation. For the time being, there are several resources you may want to consider reaching out to. Help in the form of therapy/counseling could potentially be helpful in navigating family issues as well as daily life struggles. You may want to consider speaking to a counselor at school or, reaching out to us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). We are a 24-hour service and are available to help anytime. Chatting with us directly would give us the ability to address your needs more specifically, and we hope to hear from you soon. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. Thank you for reaching out to us here at NRS. Be safe!
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I'm 11 years old. I don't feel safe at home with my parent. My mom hit on me so many times and hold my neck. She yells at me every day.Comment
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Thank you for reaching out to NRS. It is never okay for a parent to hit their child or hurt them on purpose with their words. The way your mom is treating you is called abuse and it's against the law.
You have the right to report this abuse so you can get help and stay safe. You can do this by calling 911, telling a teacher or nurse at school, or calling a hotline called Child Help at 1-800-422-4453. If you ever feel really scared that your mom is about to hurt you, definitely call 911 right away.
If you want to give NRS a call, we can also talk through your situation and brainstorm other options, like youth shelters. We are available 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929. It takes a really strong person to get through what you have, and shows a lot of courage that you are reaching out for help.
Stay strong,
NRS
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where is the nearest youth sheleter to me and how is it like in thereComment
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Hi, thanks for reaching out; we are glad that you did. Because you posted on our public forum, we don't have a way of knowing your location to look up shelter resources for you. We hope that you will either chat us through this website or call our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY so we can search for shelter and discuss the shelter intake process with you.
We truly hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
NRS
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Hello I am an 11-year-old kid and I feel like everyone has had a better life my mom has gone through a break-up and this man hurt her a lot emotionally and physically and now she is taking out her anger on me. Yet my little sister is fine she had recently gotten mad at me taken away contact from me but she forgot to take away my school computer. I never want to see her again she has placed me through so much trauma I can even fake smile. I'm am turning 12 next week and I am so scared of my mom the last time I tried to stand up to her I got slapped in the face. She has been with so many men and every time they have broken up I am her stress ball but she never knows how I feel I tried to run away once but my friend couldn't help me and my mom got so mad at me. I wasn't even supposed to be born I was in an accident they weren't planning on having a kid and here I am. I am the oldest child my little sis is 7 now but she is fine. I have 2 little brothers one 5 and the other 2 or 3 but they live in Mexico with their mother so I have never have seen them. I want to leave my house so can you please find a place for me to live far away from my mom I live in CA.Comment
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Hi, thanks for reaching out; we are glad that you did. it sounds like things are really hard at home with your mom taking out her anger on you. That is not fair and you don't deserve for this to happen to you. It sounds like you tried to run away before and it's understandable that your friend couldn't help, since they are probably around your age.
We hope that you can tell a teacher about what you are going through. It is adults and your state's child abuse agency that would investigate what is happening there. They probably wouldn't find a new place to live, but they might be able to get help for your mom to deal with her anger better.
You are welcome to chat us at through this website and we can see if there are any shelters or local resources that can be of assistance. You can also go to www.nationalsafeplace.org and click on Find a Safe Place and put in your location to see if there is someplace close to you.
We truly hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
NRS
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My dad hates me- he points things always to me and treats my little brother like he is a god- my mom doesn’t realize that this is an issue and each time I try to seek help from her she thinks I’m lying too- all my other family members will probably tell my parents that I’m insane and mg friends can’t help me because their own problems. I just wanna be happy again...Comment
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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. 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.
You mentioned experiencing emotional abuse which may be reportable against your brother. Please keep in mind you by no means deserve any type of abuse, emotional or otherwise. Unfortunately, emotional abuse is often harder to provide evidence for compared to physical abuse which is often what CPS relies on when conducting an abuse investigation. That said, we can’t be 100% sure what the outcome will be if your local CPS decides to open a case based on what you share. Sometimes CPS decides to remove minors from the home and other times they offer services such as family counseling or mediation instead. The only way to know the outcome might be to reach out to them directly and if you’re ready to do that we are here to help you through that process. Reaching out to Child Help USA at 1-800-422-4453 or www.childhelp.org may help to get a better understanding of what may happen before and after a report is made.
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.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS
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I was adopted when i was 3 and up until I was 9 things were awesome, but I got ADHD, then anxiety depression when covid hit. and then a sensory processing disorder. but that's not the issue, the issue is that my mom KNOWS i hate yelling and still yells, my dad has anger issues, and I get yelled at a lot, because of this I'm scared to get off the bus to go home, I don't feel comfortable eating with them anymore, i want to leave to my friend but i cant, because they'll also get in trouble. what do i do? I'm 13 now, I talked to my parents about emancipation but they said no, i know im too young to be emancipated i meant when i was 16. But again. what do i do?Comment
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Hi there, thanks for reaching out to NRS. We’re so sorry to hear that you’re having such a tough time at home. Nobody deserves to be yelled at, made to feel scared, or be unable to sleep/eat. We do want to say that you’re very brave for reaching out to us and sharing your situation. It’s completely understandable that you’re feeling this way and unsure of what to do. It may be helpful for you to reach out to us via chat (www.1800runaway.org) or phone 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929), so we can learn a bit more about your situation and discuss some potential options. We are available 24/7 to discuss any of this with you. In the meantime, I do want to share a few resources. You mentioned feeling depressed. Sometimes it’s helpful to talk with someone about these feelings, so it may be an option to consider speaking with a therapist or counselor. Additionally, at school, you could consider speaking with a counselor, social worker, or a teacher that you trust. If you prefer online services, a few options you could try are crisistextline.org or www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. Both have great 24/7 hotlines like our own, and they are used to chatting/speaking with people going through very similar situations to your own. We want you to know that we are here for you, and we hope that everything works out. Best of luck!
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My parents yell at me a lot. I can rarely sleep anymore, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression, I'm only 13, and I want to go to my friend but i cant because if i run too her she gets in trouble, my anxiety wont let me call for help, Only once has my home gotten physical, i was 8 i believe when my dad grabbed my arm and yanked me out of bed, it hurt, alot. I hate yelling but i get yelled at a lot, there isn't alot of trust or freedom. and i dont know what to do. this home makes me want to die. but im 13, and im scared to die.Comment
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Hi there, thanks for reaching out to NRS. We’re so sorry to hear that you’re having such a tough time at home. Nobody deserves to be yelled at, made to feel scared, or be unable to sleep/eat. We do want to say that you’re very brave for reaching out to us and sharing your situation. It’s completely understandable that you’re feeling this way and unsure of what to do. It may be helpful for you to reach out to us via chat (www.1800runaway.org) or phone 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929), so we can learn a bit more about your situation and discuss some potential options. We are available 24/7 to discuss any of this with you. In the meantime, I do want to share a few resources. You mentioned feeling depressed. Sometimes it’s helpful to talk with someone about these feelings, so it may be an option to consider speaking with a therapist or counselor. Additionally, at school, you could consider speaking with a counselor, social worker, or a teacher that you trust. If you prefer online services, a few options you could try are crisistextline.org or www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. Both have great 24/7 hotlines like our own, and they are used to chatting/speaking with people going through very similar situations to your own. We want you to know that we are here for you, and we hope that everything works out. Best of luck!
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I am a 12 year old girl and don't feel safe in my own home anymore. My stepdad calls me retarded and gets mad at the smallest things. My mom just goes along with it and doesn't say anything. Please help me!
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Thanks for reaching out to NRS,
It sounds like you’re going through a lot at home, you never deserve to be called derogatory names by anyone; especially not a parent. It seems like your stepdad is the main aggressor and your mom may not know or want to intervene and help protect you. It is understandable you would want changes to this situation and not feel comfortable in a home like that.
You deserve to feel safe at home, it seems like your mom is the person with the most power to make an immediate change since she is the one with a relationship to your stepdad to be able to talk to him about this. One option would be to share with her how you are being made to feel as she may not understand the pain it causes. Another would be to find ways to be out of the house more to avoid being around your stepdad as much. The last tangible step might be making an abuse report with child protective services if it continues or escalates. Often emotional abuse like what you are describing is hard to prove to CPS, but they can take steps like family counseling that might help make a change. If things escalate to physical violence from your stepdad they are usually more willing to step in directly.
If you wanted to explore specifics around talking with your mom, or ways to cope with your stepdad’s harsh words you can always reach out to us directly. We can even conference call with your mom to mediate a conversation, or find safe ways to cope/stay out of the house. We can also always just listen and provide support as well, if any of that feels like it might help please call us or chat with us online at 1-800-786-2929 or www.1800runaway.org
Stay safe,
NRS.
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You should call someone for help or call a friend or get help from someoneComment
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Thank you for your response to another user’s post. Often forums are a place of support and understanding for many youth. It often may be validating and helpful for users to read similar situations as well as exchange feedback to one another. For anyone experiencing any difficulties or challenges, the National Runaway Safeline encourages youth to reach out to our 24/7 crisis support line either by phone or chat for immediate services.
Thank you, NRS
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Hi I’m 15 and I just don’t want to stay here anymore. I feel unwanted and being called out of my name all the time doesn’t feel good at all but I got used to it. Hearing that you will never be anything in life,your dumb, stupid and worse thing I can’t say it’s just hurtful and depressing. I’m afraid if I stay here any longer, I won’t be able to continue. It’s like a jail in here and I live with my 3 other siblings and the oldest was already kicked out. I can’t go out or do anything and this toxic life is just not for me. I just want out of this please. I cried all night thinking if I should leave or not but I don’t have the guts to do it so I’m posting this comment asking for help.Comment
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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 are sorry to hear that you have been called dumb and that you will never be anything in your life, this is not okay. You have value and we are here to help. It sounds like you are feeling like you’re in a toxic environment and that you’ve considered leaving but are unsure what to do.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. Since you are 15, if you 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, your 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 forum 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.
Take care,
NRS
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hi i onley 12 years old i really dont feel safe at because they alwayys think i lieing or stealing thire stuff but I'm not doing the nun of that stuff they always belive my brother but not be i dont no why they always yelling at me saying that they wanna kill me and they sometimes hit me in my chest it hurts and makes be stand in the corner for ablout 5 hours or so and hold books and i barley get sleep because i scared i dont feel safe please help me they always spoileing my brother but not me i feel like i not apart of the family and dont feel loved i want a diffrent family please helpComment
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Hi thank you for reaching out to NRS!
Your home life sounds like it has been causing you quite a deal of stress, and things sound rough. I am so sorry you are going through this. Threatening statements and physical abuse are never ok. Abuse in any form is not your fault, and it’s understandable how afraid and alone you feel. Know that you matter. If you are interested in the idea of an abuse report, one can be made anonymously for you. A friend’s parent, a teacher, or another adult you trust could help you make one. Visiting Childhelp.org can give you more information, and they have a hotline as well. Likewise, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has a hotline if you feel like you need to speak with anyone suicidepreventionlifeline.org. If you fear for your immediate safety, call 9-1-1. Remember how much you matter and how strong you are for reaching out for help. Feel free to reach out to us anytime through our online chat service or our phone hotline. We are available 24/7. Stay safe, stay strong, and know you are loved!
NRS
1-800-RUNAWAY
1800runaway.org
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I'm 17 and pregnant and I don't feel safe at home anymore. My parents won't let me live with my boyfriend. My baby and me aren't safe here.Comment
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Hello,
Thanks ever so much for reaching out to us. We are so sorry that the situation at home has been so unsettling for you. Please know that it is never ok for anyone to make you feel unsafe at home. You deserves to live in a space where you feels safe. It sounds like you are considering leaving, but have been unable to get consent. We are not legal experts, but we will share information that may help you figure out your next steps.
It sounds like you have concerns about yours and your baby's safety if you stay at home. If you have not done so, making a call to CPS is a good first step if you feel someone is making your living situation unsafe. If you do not know how to reach them, organizations like Child Help, available at 1-800-422-4453 or by visiting www.childhelp.org/ can help you identify your local agency and make a report if you would like to. Regarding leaving home, from what we understand, in some states, it is technically not illegal to run away, but it is considered a status offense in some states. If you leaves without consent, your parents or legal guardians can file a runaway report with their local police department. Each police department has discretion to handle reports as they see fit, but typically, if a youth runs away and is located, they would be returned to their parent/legal guardian. The best way to confirm how the process works in your area is to call your local police at their non emergency number and asking them directly. If you are hoping to permanently live somewhere else with another adult/legal guardian, it may help to reach out to someone familiar with the laws in your state, like a local legal aid agency, so that they can outline what your options might be. If you need help identifying resources, or just want to talk about the situation, you are welcome to reach out to us.
Whatever you decide, please know that we are here to support you. We cannot tell you what to do, but we will do our best to support you as you figure out your next steps. 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). We are here to listen, here to help. Stay safe!
-NRS
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Hi I am a 10 year old boy and I have a stepmother who is really very rude. She makes me do EVERYTHING for her and my sister just freebies on her PC. if I didn't do anything my stepmother thinks I'm the only one to blame! Like one time while I was playing with my friends I went into my backyard and her garden was there and her most favorite flower was destroyed! I didn't do it and she blamed me for it! She got so mad that she was about to send me in Juvenile detention! But I convinced her not to. so she got one of her belts and was threatening me to fold clothes do dishes take out the trash clean her room and all those other chores! And she made food that my dad and my sister liked but I didn't like it. That happened for a few days. I was STARVING. one time she broke my leg and told my sister and my dad they believed me. And my stepmother didn't believe me. And while she's at work, she'll lock me in my room and when she gets back she'll make me do chores. I really want her gone it would be a miracle if she was gone.Comment
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Hi there,
Thank you for reaching out to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We recognize the strength and courage it takes to reach out, and we are proud of you for taking the initiative for yourself. Though we are not legal experts, it is to our understanding that you would not go to juvenile detention for a flower being destroyed. It sounds like you are experiencing abuse from your stepmother in various ways. We are sorry to hear that you are going through this. We are curious to learn if you have reported this information to anybody and how that may have went. We would be glad to assist you with this further, by providing you with the support you deserve and looking through resources that may help you. Please feel welcome to reach out to us for a further conversation, through our chat portal on our website at www.1800runaway.org where you will click on the "CHAT" button. Additionally, you have the option to give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY. Please know that our line operates 24/7, so you may contact us at any time.
We encourage you to please contact 911 immediately if you find yourself at risk or in imminent danger. Your safety deserves to remain the priority! Please know that supportive people such as a trusted family member, teachers or school staff, and the police department are people you may also talk about this with and report to, if you feel comfortable doing so.
We look forward to the opportunity to talk further with you and in the meantime, we are wishing you peace, health, and safety.
Kindly,
NRS
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My computer is glitching, so I will try to summarize this the best I can.
My mom saw me swipe up on a text I got from someone yesterday but demanded I give her the phone so she could read it. It was about a gay show a "friend" of mine had been watching, but my whole entire family is extremely homophobic. Naturally, my mom flipped out, and she backread those messages to find "I love you" written from both of us. My phone has been confiscated, and I am typing this on my school chromebook. My family is forcing me to come out to them, but things will only get worse if I tell the truth.
What do I do? I don't feel safe, and even typing this is somewhat a risk for me. I only have one week left of school until summer break and my mom is threatening to put me in a private Catholic school because of my identity.Comment
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Hi,
Thank you for reaching out to us about such a difficult situation. We’re really sorry to hear that your family holds these kinds of destructive and hurtful views. In dealing with their reactions and treatment towards you, it’s really important to remember that there is nothing wrong with you and you have done nothing to deserve any kind of resentment from them just because of your sexuality.
Also, in terms of them forcing you to come out, you do not owe them any truth you are not comfortable sharing. If you don’t feel safe, then you are in your right to deny their assumptions and redirect them with any kind of excuse you can think of. Your safety and wellbeing are much more important than giving them the satisfaction of an admittance.
NRS offers various conference call and mediation services if you need to have a difficult conversation with your family but want a buffer between you, we can help. Another really great resource on this kind of issue is the www.thetrevorproject.org. They specialize in LGBTQ+ issues and especially mental health support for youth, and have a chat line like us.
Although it seems like you’re not in a place where you can chat with us for long, it could be really beneficial to reach out to our chat line once you’re in a safe place. Our chat line is web browser based and open 24/7. If you choose to reach out to our chat line, we do our best work when we can have a conversation with you. You can chat us through this website (www.1800runaway.org) 24/7, whenever is is safe for you.
We truly hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
NRS
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Hello I'm 20 years old and at home I mentally and emotionally feel safe around my parents. I have been living with them my whole life. I have no control of my life but they do. I have support with some of my sisters but that doesn't do so well. I'm constantly being told what problems I have. I can't speak up for myself or they will just yell at me. I can't have any unsupervised activitys , and the list goes on. I never felt safe. I feel paranoid and jumpy. I got anxiety depression adhd, and autisum. I'm always on the look out. They don't do physical stuff like hitting, but they use there advantage on emotional damage. I would try to get my own place, but whenever I get money from my job, they take it and I don't get to use it until I ask, and most of the time they say no. So that's crossed off. My aunt and uncle like farther away so I can't go there, and my grandma is in a nursing home. I have no were to go. I have no electronics to contact exept this tablet I'm secretly using. Everyone gets so much power in this house,but me, I don't at all. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm tired and confused.please help meComment
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Hi there,
Since you are 20 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.
Please remember you can reach us directly by calling our 24 hour hotline, 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or through our Live Chat via www.1800runaway.org.
National Runaway Safeline
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