I'm 12 and I want to run Away.

[Guest]

I'm twelve and I want to run away too.

All of you aren’t alone, and I can clearly understand the pain and neglect you face, whether it’s from your parents, trusted guardians, and even your siblings. I’ve been abused for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always been anonymous about my situation because I was afraid someone would contact my parents, and they’d get extremely angry and limit me from what I love to do more. I suffer from depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety. I’ve always had the feeling I wanted to harm something or someone so I can relieve myself from pent up anger. I always hurt my friends and I’m so distant, and I understand why they ignore me because I’m toxic. I come from a black family, and I’m on the internet enough to know our status on politics, racism, sexism, racial discrimination, etc., because I’m exposed to it everyday, whether it’s at school or at home. My father works from daytime to the next day so I don’t see him as much, but my grandmother is verbally abusive, and belittles my self-confidence and treats me like ********. I try to avoid her as much as possible; this applies to most kids at school, too.

Ive always had a detailed plan to run away. The usual, pack clothes, pack non perishables, take a bike and go, get a small job despite not being in the right age group, specifically working at a convience store or anywhere close to your school. A few friends of mine suggested I work at my school and I’d possibly get good pay, since one of the students do it too. My school is very successful and very smart so I think I’m capable of getting a degree and graduating highschool and going to the military. I wanted to manage and I recently had a rant about doing so ending my message with, “You’re on thin ********ing ice buddy.” When my mother notice, she was extremely worried. She loves me so much and would do anything to take my custody to court again and take care and feed me properly. She knows I feel comfortable at her own home, but lately, the privilege to go over her house has been belittled until further notice, so I won’t get to see my big brother and proudly pregnant sister.

Again, I don’t like my situations to be notified to my family because I know how stupid ********ing mad they’ll go on me, and bullet me with questions. Please give me some advice before I either kill myself, or I runaway without a word! I really hope everyone else get the help they need and persevere through their problems. Just know that I love you, and despite not being here physically, I want to be a strong reminder that everything will get better in the future.

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through an extremely difficult time. We just want you to know that you are not alone and there are people here for you. We are 100 percent confidential so we will not be able to notify your parents, but because you are posting on a public site others can see your post so please do not put any identifying information if you would like to remain anonymous.
You mentioned being abuse, we want you to know that any type of abuse is unacceptable and you do not deserve to be treated that way. We know you mentioned not wanting your parents to find out, but if you ever wish to report the abuse you can report it by contacting Child Help- 1800-422-4453. We know that making abuse reports can be scary if you would like our help you can call us at any time and we would be more than happy to help make a report. If you ever feel like you’re in immediate danger please call 911 ASAP.
You also mentioned having suicidal thoughts and depression. If you ever need to talk to someone you can call The Suicide Prevention Life Line at: 1800-273-8255. We want you to know that your life is valuable and worth living. Sometimes dealing with these thoughts can be very hard to deal with them alone. You could consider talking to a school counselor or therapist about what you are going through. There is always someone willing to listen and provide support for you, you are not alone.
You also mentioned wanting to run away. We are not legal experts but we do have general knowledge of the laws. If you are a minor (usually under 1 your legal guardian has the right to file a runaway report on you. Running away is not a criminal offense it is a status offense. What that means is that if you were to runaway the police would most likely bring you back home. If you are planning to run away you may want to consider safety, where you would go, and how you would survive. There are other options besides running away such as using coping skills. If you ever feel like running away you could try writing your thoughts in a journal, talking to a friend or family member, drawing, and going on walks.
We hope this information will be helpful in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to talk more please feel free to give us a call we are here 24/7. We wish you the best of luck and remember to stay strong!
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I'm 11 and i want to run away im a female my name is Leylanee

[ccsmod5]

Hi Leylanee,
Thanks for writing to us. It takes courage to reach out and ask for help when things are difficult and we appreciate you doing so. We’d love to talk to you about what is going on. Our line is 24/7 and confidential. We can be reached via our online chat or on the phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

[Guest]

I'm 12 and I want to runaway to live with my boyfriend but I don't want my parents to worry but I really want to my boyfriend because it's a long distance relationship and I really want to see him now.

[ccsmod9]

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

[Guest]

i'm 11 and i want to run away

[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 doing so. 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.

Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org.

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

[Guest]

Hello i wanna run away and im 13 and the only people that will get our not in the same city as me so how do i get the money to go with them

[ccsmod3]

Thanks for reaching out to NRS. It sounds like you’re looking for ideas on how to leave home. The most important thing is to make sure that you’re safe – things like having a plan for food, shelter, transportation and thinking through possible risks. For example, there is a risk of violence in living on the street or staying with people you don’t know well.
Although there are jobs available to you at 13 (like babysitting or walking dogs), the most important thing is to have a plan for when that money runs out. Many runaways leave home and find themselves stranded without money to get home, or forced into dangerous situations to survive.
Without knowing more about your situation, running away in most states means that if you leave home without a parent or guardian’s permission and they report you as a runaway, the police can bring you home. It’s usually considered a status offense, not a crime. However, there are laws against “harboring a runaway” or “corrupting a minor” in many jurisdictions, so if the people you’re staying with are over age 18, there could be legal consequences for them, especially if you cross state lines. That’s another potential risk to keep in mind.
We are here for you 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929 if you’d like to talk more about your situation or brainstorm other options.

[Guest]

Hi I’m 15 and I want to leave my house were can i go i don’t like living with my mom mentally she makes me feel bad about myself and I’m just a disappointment to her. I want to stop feeling bad about myself. So where can I go if I leave the house since the rest of my family is in another country

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline and sharing a little bit about what is going. It takes a lot of courage to reach out and especially in a time where you have a really tough and complex situation.

It can be difficult to know how to talk to your parents and express your feelings about how you are feeling. We would encourage you to reach out to a trusted adult, teacher, relative, and friend that you can talk to and potentially help you mediate a conversation with your parents about your current situation.

At NRS, we do offer a service call conference calling, where you can call into our hotline and then we would reach out to your guardian and help advocate for you, help you express the needs you have to your parents
Also another way you can seek help is reaching out to a friend, teacher, or counselor at school that can help you look for resources. Your mental health is important. You can also look at SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) at samhsa.gov (call them directly at 1-877-726-4727) or NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness 1-800-950-NAMI to help you find the support that you need.

We are here for you and will support you in anyway that we can. Please feel free to call into us directly as we can talk further about your situation and find resources that are best for you in your area. Stay strong and you are not alone in this! Our hotline ( 1-800-RUNAWAY) and chat are open 24/7.
-NRS

[Guest]

I am 12 and i just want to run away becuase my parents thraten me and say they will punch hit me with a metal bat and other things.im tired of things that should not be right and the things they do to me.my mom took 50$ dollars from me i went to take it back and to look good she put it in my room when i was sleeping and said that there was the money.I cant do enything for a month and they said they will leave me home in the summer but i dont think ill be there in summer 2019.becuase i might run away.

[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. We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on. No one deserves to be treated or talked to like that at all. If your parents do end up punching you or hitting you in any way, you always have the right to report it (physical, mental, sexual, or neglect/abandonment) to your local child protective service in your state. You have rights to protect yourself from unfair or excessive punishment.

Only you know yourself when it’s time to leave home due to it being an unsafe situation and it sounds like you might some specific questions that you want to ask us or maybe find a place to vent about what you are feeling right now. It’s hard to talk to just anyone one about what has been going on.

Please reach out to us here by phone or chat so that we can talk a little further about what's going on!

[Guest]

I’m 12 and I’m thinking about running away.

Even though I’m young, I always feel like I must be the deepest person in the world. I know I’m not, but the way I think sort of makes me feel that way. I’m also extremely lonely, I guess you could call me antisocial, but I just don’t feel comfortable with being friends with people who are so shallow or just don’t understand me. And since no one understands me, I’m alone. And it hurts. I have this deep, piercing sadness within me and no one to talk to about it. And no one to talk to about problems at home too.
See, my parents were really abusive when I was younger. It was mostly my dad, but he influenced my mom and she copied him. Eventually, about 2 years ago, she divorced him. I think that’s when my depression triggered.
Ever since, I’ve been having more and more problems with my mom, while pretending at the same time that my dad doesn’t exist. There’s no hope for me and him, but I miss the mom that I felt like I could talk to sometimes. My sister recently said that I could always talk to her, but I found out it wasn’t true.
Home is chaotic for me. This sadness is only getting worse, and the medication I have to take isn’t helping me. I just wanna escape. Escape this life, get out of here, but I don’t know what to do! I’m so confused and scared and alone, please respond and give me some advice!!!

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It must be really hard to feel so isolated and live in a home with so much tension. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

Dealing with mental health issues like depression can be daunting and sometimes it’s helpful to reach out for additional support. You can always call the National Alliance on Mental Illness at 800-950-NAMI or by texting NAMI to 741741. You can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration by calling 877-726-4726.

It’s important to consider all the possibilities that can occur if you leave home. You will need to plan out how you will cover basic necessities like travel, food, clothing, etc. If you have a place to go in mind, it’s good to see what the expectations of the living arrangement will be like; rules, the amount of time you’re allowed to stay, if you’re expected to contribute financially, etc. This can all influence your decision to leave.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 12 and it is really hard for me and I have given real thought to running away. Im my heart I know it is wrong, but on the outside it is right. I need help because I don't want to give up my friend and my church, but I am willing to give up everything else. I have everything I would need, like money and food, and there I s a good time as well. What do I do??

[ccsmod2]

Hello,
Thanks for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline. We’re glad you reached out. It sounds like you’re contemplating a tough decision. It can be difficult to decide if you’d like to run away or not. It takes strength to reach out when you’re thinking this through.
As you are 12 years old, you are considered a minor, so if you do run away, it is likely that you will be returned to your parents or guardians. They may file a runaway report, and if found, you’ll be returned home. If you choose to stay with a friend or family member, they could be charged with harboring a minor. We do not give legal advice, so we cannot say for sure exactly what the consequences would be, but these are some possibilities. You mentioned you have money and food, it sounds like you’ve been planning this out for a while. If you are considering staying at a shelter, you could contact National Safe Place by texting SAFE and your location to 69866. They could be helpful in locating a shelter near you.
To discuss your situation further and some other possible outcomes, you can call us at 1-800-786-2929. We can discuss possible shelter options as well. We look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for reaching out.

Best,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 12 and Want To Run Away

I am 12 years old and I feel like running away. My family treats me like a nobody, a responsibility, and like I am a hated pet that they want to throw away. Sometimes I fell like killing myself. I might even run away tonight. I do not have an email account either. But I do have a best friend next door that might help me. She won't, but she might.

Tell me what I should do. What should I do? Answer me quick though because like I said, 5 minutes.

[ccsmod2]

Hello 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. Having these thoughts can be really difficult or close to impossible to deal with alone. We want you to know you are not alone and there is always someone willing to listen and provide support to you. You could consider talking to a school counselor or therapist, sometimes talking to a professional can help us feel better. We want you to know that your life is so valuable and you are worth living for.
If you are having suicidal thoughts you can reach out to The National Suicide Prevention Line at: 1800-273-8255. If you are in immediate danger please call 911 ASAP. What you are describing in this forum post worries us and your safety is our top concern. You may want to consider the consequences of if you were to commit suicide.
We hope this information has helped and we hope that if you have any other questions you give us a call we are open 24/7. We wish you the best of luck. Stay safe!
NRS

[Guest]

hello im 11 and I want tom run away. I have everything ready just incase I actually do. and I'm planning on it too. my mom absolutely hates me. she never listens to me and she makes me do crap I don't wanna do... and its not like chores or anything, its like with men... but I wont get into that. I just need some advice before I actually do.

[ccsmod9]

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. . It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and 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. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.
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

[Guest]

I NEED URGENT HELP

i am 11 yrs old go to a 'catholic' school and i was FORCED here which is already stressful but i have so much homework and whenever i do something wrong i get locked in my room for the day with no food so now i am malnourished and my parents blamed my damn phone and threw it out the window and i am either gonna commit suicide or run away forever so i need help
also i have anxiety and think everyone hates me
so yeah

[ccsmod0]

Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to us here at NRS for some help today. It sounds like you have been pushed to your breaking point with your parents. From what you have been haring it does not sound fair the way they are treating you. It is your parent’s responsibility to take care of you which includes making sure that you are fed. Your parents not feeding you is considered neglect which is crime. We want you to know that you have the right to report what you have been experiencing. Child Help USA is an information and referral line that can connect you with your local CPS abuse hotline. That number is 1-800-422-4453. If you ever felt like making a report or needed help, we are here to assist with that. We understand that making an abuse report can be intimidating so if you like we can call together to provide support.
We don’t want you to give up hope. There are a lot of people out there that want to help and support you. We can imagine how difficult it must be for you to, you are such a strong and wonderful person who deserves to be treated as such. If you continue to have suicidal thoughts we would encourage you to reach out to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 Sometimes being able to talk to someone about what your experiencing can provide relief and new options not previously thought of.
Again, thank you for being so brave. If you need anything please let us know 1-800-786-2929
Best wishes,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 15. I’m a teenager which I’m going to try new things. Yes, ik they are wrong and I understand why my parents are mad. But it gives no rights for my parents to physically or mentally abuse me. I get if they want to teach me a lesson but I got in trouble a year ago, and it’s still going on. Saying ******** like “I’m a disappointment or slut/hoe” hitting me with shoes. Pushing me down on the floor then kicking me. Pushing me into corners so I have nowhere to go. It’s honestly terrible. I feel empty. I don’t want to be at my house anymore. I can’t see my friends anymore. Anything that made me happy doesn’t anymore. And I don’t know what to do. I just wanna loose connection to my parents. I don’t want to feel short breather every time I come into my house. I’m sick and tired of always having to watch out for my step dad. Idk I just wanna leave. Go anywhere. Idc where.

[ccsmod4]

Reply: I’m 15.

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

From everything that you have been going through at home with your parent’s it took a lot of courage for you to reach out. We appreciate you sharing your feelings about the situation. Well done. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned wanting to leave. 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.

Again you do not deserve to be abused physically, emotionally etc.
It is not your fault that this is happening. You cannot control what others choose to do.
Seeking help is an option available to you.

To report any abusive treatment there is Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody. We understand that this may be a difficult for choice to you. Your safety is of our concern.

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. We are limited as to how we can help in this type of forum.

If you would like to talk more in detail please call 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in.

Be safe,
NRS

We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: Your Opinion Matters to Us

[Guest]

I’m 11 and I hate being at home my parent always yells at me and calls me names like stupid or he cusses at me and I’ve been wanting to run away for a long time now and I think I might because I’m starting to get sick and tired of all of this and getting blamed that I’m “a drama queen” and that I’m being a baby

[ccsmod15]

If you have contacted NRS today through another means (for example, live chat, email or bulletin) for the same issue, it would be helpful to let us know that you have already contacted us. NRS understands it takes courage to reach out for help; therefore, we would like to minimize the need for you to repeat your situation and avoid offering you duplicate services.
Best of luck,
NRS