I'm 12 and I want to run Away.

[Guest]

I'm 12 and I want to run away

it started when I was 10 and no my parents aren't the problem it was my brother at first it started out as lowering my self esteem when it was already bad I will be called a ********** daily along with many others I'll get called worthless daily ugly i'v considered killing my self or cutting it's getting so bad and honestly I have tried by pills and it keeps getting worse my parents are almost never home and when they are they dont notice that i have become depressed and seem to be forgotten in the family i hate life so much and yet nobody seems to notice i have been wondering how much more I can endure before I decide to end it myself so instead I'm going to run away thought about for 2 years so why not now and even sadder I can't even tell anybody about it of the pain when my brother hits me is 5x worse I'm sorry to bother people here I know that's what I am a bother but thank you for reading if you do at least I'm noticed a little so thank you

[ccsmod9]

Thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS. We understand you are going through a rough patch and we are sorry to hear about it. Our hope is to provide you with the resources and tools to help you make a decision that is best for you. 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 12 and I want to run away. There are so many reasons to explain this as well. Firstly, I’ll start with my problems, paranoia, anxiety, and depression. My mother always calls me angst, not realizing that my moods changes once I started getting it. My mother always is short tempered with me and my brother, cussing at us, hitting him, etc. Then, one day, I was supposed to get blood taken, but I was crying because I was so terrified and we had to leave because I couldn’t relax. When she brought me into the car she started yelling at me saying how stupid I was and that I should’ve done it. At that point in time I was done, I didn’t want to live and I still don’t. That all happened yesterday from the day I’m writing this. Then, the next day (today) she said she was going to cut my hair, no big deal right? No, for me I have very long hair that took 6 years to grow. She said if I were to be sitting next to her she would’ve smacked me in the face. Now, I understand why I wondered how it would feel to stab myself in my stupid heart when I was 8 years old. I have a decent amount of money to buy stuff, I’m hoping to move out of the state as well. I do indeed have a brother, he is over the age of 18. My transportation may be by bus and with money I can buy some food. Plan B, I have no idea. I’m positive that where I intend on going will be better than what I’m currently facing. I won’t have the ability to depend on anyone as well. I’ve actually thought about running away since I had been maybe 6 or 7. I’m going to have to start getting a bag packed as well. I’m eager to get out and away from this horrid life. I’d also want to team up with other kids that feel the same so we can work together as a group. I’ve never really been one to work in groups, but I’d be happy to have someone other than me to go. I’m not terrified of the world, I’ve seen what it can do. Once I get old enough, or if I even last that long, I’m intending to move to Germany. If I truly do run away and make it put, then I would HAVE to get out of the city fast and get on a bus extremely fast. I don’t have too many talents other than I draw, play violin, and I have the ability to speak a bit of Russian. Thank you for reading, I didn’t go into deep detail about what I’m planning but I hope you can help me out.

[ccsmod0]

Hello
Thank you for taking the time to write to us and share a bit about your situation. Your question about being about le leave home is one that we get asked a lot. We have attached a reply to another user’s question that we think might be beneficial to you as well.

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!!!


MSG: 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

If you still have further questions or concerns we would strongly encourage you to give us a phone call anytime 1-800-786-2929

[Guest]

Hi I'm 12 I've thought of running away for a while because I feel as if I don't matter and that it would be better without me please help me make the right decision.

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Hi i'm 12 I've thought of running away


Hello,
Thank you for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline.

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.

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 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,
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]

What should I do if I’ve been thinking of killing myself for all my life and nothing I do stop these thoughts? What should I do if my dad bluntly tells me I ruin everything and he wishes I never was born? What do I do if I’m haunted w thoughts of my childhood trauma like my uncle raping me and my mom abusing me and my dad never really being there? What if I don’t have a family member to take me. What if I kill myself right now? I need to get help. Please I want to live a beautiful life but I don’t think I deserve a life.

[ccsmod4]

Reply: What should I do...

Hello,
Thank you for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline.

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 are thinking about harming yourself or ending your life. It takes a lot of strength to reach out for help, and we are so glad that you did. Your life has worth and our top priority is your safety. If you feel this is an emergency you could consider calling 911 for emergency assistance. You do not deserve to be abused by anyone.. It is not your fault that the people in your life have betrayed you. We understand that right now things seem confusing to you and you are having some thoughts of suicide.

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, and there is so much help out there for you. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, the National Suicide Hotline could be a good resource for you. You can check them out at www.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 live chat at www.1800runaway.org
if you need to talk.

You also have the right to report any abuse to child protective services. To do so call Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org


You did a great job reaching out today. You have great strength.

Take care,
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]

hi im 13 i just wanna kms or run away i got in trouble at school and my dad tells me "ima take yuu back to foster care " bc he was in jail and i was in foster care he he got me out and every time i get in trouble he talks about and i just get scared like what if one day he does and so i just wanna go kms al da time im a light skinn and some times i just out and my folks say im trying to be " fly " or "kool" and i dont be trying to i just wanna run away i currently have my bags packed

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today.

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 killing yourself 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.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe and stay strong,

NRS

[Guest]

I’m 13 years old. Over a year ago, I wrote to this site stating that I was planning on running away with my ex girlfriend. She and I are safe at home, and dating again. But she and I still want to leave. Her parents recently divorced, and she is being abused at home. I’ve been collecting non-perishable foods for weeks; and gathering money, my girlfriend is doing the same, as it will just be us. We are going to factory reset our phones and sell them. We’re leaving as soon as possible. I’ve been exercising, pushups, sprints up and down hills, sit ups, pull ups, etc. I don’t know where we’re going but.. we aren’t gonna come back. Any advice on how to get money on the streets?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. We’re glad to hear you’re using our services again and that you are safe.
Nobody should have to live in an abusive environment and we’re very sorry to hear that your girlfriend is going through that. There are specific resources to support the two of you if you are interested. The National Child Abuse Hotline can be reached over the phone at 1-800-422-4453 or over the web at childhelp.org if that sounds like it would be helpful. It’s admirable that you are looking out for your partner and are trying to do what is right for them. Talking through some of these issues with a trained counselor can be really beneficial – whether that’s through of these hotlines or a trusted adult at school. These counselors can also help you to report the abuse if you wish to take that route.

With regard to leaving home it sounds like you’re considering all possibilities to make sure leaving is the best option for you. In terms of making money on the streets, you could consider getting a job. Something like babysitting or working at a local store could help provide you with steady income. It might be helpful to think about what you will both do should you run out of money as well.

We are available here at NRS 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929). We also have a chat service that is available through our website daily if you need additional support. We will be best able to assist you through one of these services.
Thank you again for contacting us. Take care of yourself and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help.

-NRS

[Guest]

hey i am 12 and want to run away i hate my lifev cause me and my parents always get in huge fights and i just want to leave this house

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you so much for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are going through a challenging situation and it makes sense that you are interested in leaving your house. Reaching out for help is a good first step and we are here to help.
First, you mentioned you are contemplating running away. We are not legal experts but running away is what would be considered a “status offense” since you are legally a minor. A status offense is not a crime, it is something that you cannot do because of your age (on par with smoking a cigarette). If you do have your parents’ permission, then you can legally stay with a friend and that is totally fine. Once you turn 18, you can leave home whenever you’d like, without any legal consequences.
If you choose to runaway, you might want to consider where you’d go and how you’d take care of yourself. It’s helpful to consider a backup plan should you original plan not work and consider how you’ll have access to basic needs such as food.
In general, it sounds like you could potentially benefit from having someone to talk to who can listen and understand. You could also consider contacting SAMHSA (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration) at 1-877-726-4727 or at www.samhsa.gov. You deserve to feel supported through this. Additionally, some people prefer to talk to a trusted adult, such as a teacher or another person they know.
Our hotline can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929). We also have a chat service that is available through our website. We will be best able to assist you through one of these services. We would love to talk with you and we care about you.
Thank you again for contacting us and we look forward to hearing from you further. Take care of yourself.
-NRS

[Guest]

Hello, im almost 14 and i really want to runaway

My mother always favorites my sister. Right my parents have financial problems, we had quite a lot money before but, now we dont even have a car. Im not at school from the start of the year, and, therefore, i have no one to talk to. My mom mostly ignores me and mostly talks to me when she wants or needs something. I dont really have such a good friendship bond with my parents. Please help, i want to talk to someone please.

[ccsmod5]

Hi,
Thank you so much for reaching out and sharing some of what’s going on in your family life. It can be difficult navigating changes in the family financial situation, particularly if it’s a big change. It must be very lonely to have no one to talk to at home and feel ignored, especially if you’re not attending school. You deserve to feel loved and supported at home! One option is to let your family know how you’ve been feeling and how they might be able to be more supportive. That can be a difficult conversation to have, so it might be easier to have another adult you trust there to help you have that talk; you might consider a teacher, guidance counselor, family friend, or perhaps a friend’s parent. If that doesn’t seem like a possibility, here at NRS we can help you talk with your parents by phone. If you’re interested in that service, feel free to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929. Finally, we encourage you to confide in people you trust, like a therapist or counselor.
You mention that you’re considering running away. We are not legal experts, but it could be helpful to know some general information on runaway laws. In most states, you need to be 18 to leave home without permission. If you choose to leave home without permission, your family could call the police to file a runaway report. If the police are able to find you, they may return you home. That being said, your safety is our number one priority. If you do decide to leave, you may want to consider where you would stay (friends, family, shelter?), how you’d get food (food pantries, other ways?), and what you’d do if you find yourself in a dangerous situation. Running away is a big decision and can be dangerous even with the most thorough planning.
You are always welcome to call us if you ever need someone to listen, help you figure out resources, and help in any way we can. We are here to listen, here to help 24/7. Good luck and stay safe!

[Guest]

Im 12 and i want to run away and my mom calls me ***** and says **** you and she says i hate. You and your my worst mistake and i will drop you off at a foster home. And since she hits me and leaves bruises in visable spots and i have to make excuses at school. So im planning on running but dont know what to do.

[ccsmod1]

Thank you for reaching out to us and telling us your story. It sounds like you are going through a very difficult time right now and we hope to be able to help you out. We want you to know that no one deserves to be abused, and you should not have to go through that. If you haven’t already, you could consider reporting the abuse you’ve been experiencing. If you want more information about abuse reporting or if you want to file a report, you could call Child Help at 1-800-422-4453.

Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do. We’re not legal experts here at NRS. Generally, it’s not illegal to leave home but your parents could file a runaway report, the police could get involved, and they could bring you home. Anyone you’re staying with could potentially get charged with “harboring,” for letting you stay there without your parent’s permission.
If you don’t feel safe and feel like you need to get away immediately Nationalsafeplace.org provides a safe location for you to meet a staff member who can take you to a designated place where you can discuss all options about how to stay safe. You can text 69866 the word “safe,” and your location (Ex: 69866ChicagoSafe) to find a safe location in your area. Once you arrive let someone who works there know you need help connecting with a staff member.

It can be difficult to manage situations like this and you don’t have to do it alone. Your school can also be a good resource for support and options with what you are going through. We are also available to talk or chat 24/7 at 1-800Runaway (786-2929) or 1800Runaway.org.

You’ve been very courageous to reach out for help and try your best despite the circumstances.
Best of luck

-NRS

[Guest]

[FONT=comic sans ms]I’m 12 and want to run away.
i have depression and anxiety. I go to a youth group at my church on thursdays and my “teacher” saw me have the word ******** written on my hand. She told me to go wash it off and jokingly said to pray for me. It was annoying and *********** but she always does it. she tells me to stop when I’m not doing anything. She tells me to shut up when I’m not talking. She made fun of me for asking what happened to my friends sister. That’s not something to make fun of and it’s not a stupid question but she found a way to. And I’m bisexual and that’s a sin

[ccsmod1]

We’re sorry to hear that you’ve been going through such a difficult time. You don’t deserve to be called names and feel like your questions are not valued. Running away is a big decision and It can be difficult to manage situations like this but you don’t have to do it alone.

Although we are not legal experts, generally it’s not illegal to leave home, but your parents could file a runaway report, the police could get involved, and they could bring you home. Anyone you’re staying with could potentially get charged with “harboring,” if your parents didn’t give you permission to stay there.
If you don’t feel safe and feel like you need to get away Nationalsafeplace.org provides a safe location for you to meet a staff member who can take you to a designated place where you can discuss all options about how to stay safe. You can text 69866 the word “safe,” and your location (Ex:69866ChicagoSafe) to find a safe location in your area. Once you arrive let someone who works there know you need help connecting with a staff member.

You mentioned depression and anxiety. If you’re not currently getting mental health resources, it can be really helpful to get treatment. As your mental health suffers, you have limited ability to handle the other stressors in your life. You can contact SAMHSA to connect you to mental health resources at 1-877-726-4727 or samhsa.gov. You may also want to talk to your school because they should have a counselor for you.
Your sexuality is a part of you and no one should make you feel bad for being who you are. There are resources available for youth who identify as LGBTQ. LGBT National youth talkline 1-800-246-7743 provides support and can help with any feelings you may have. Again, thank you for contacting us. It sounds like you’ve been going through a really hard time, but you’ve shown a lot of strength by working through these challenges and reaching out for help. If you ever need anything in the future, please feel free to call us at 1-800Runaway or chat with us online at 1800Runaway.org. We’re always here to listen and here to help.

Wishing you the best.
-NRS

[Guest]

I want to run away with a person who is thinking about running away because at school im being bullied and my crush knew i liked him but then kissed my BFF and he is bullying me and when i get home i get hit

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for reaching out to NRS! Asking for help is a great first step. It sounds like you have been dealing with a lot of stress and frustrating situations. It must be upsetting to have your crush act like that and bullying is never okay. School and home should be places where you feel comfortable and you deserve to feel safe in these spaces.

We are not legal experts by any means, but from what we know if you leave home without permission then your parents can file a runaway report. Running away is not illegal, but if police find you they will most likely return you home. Being bullied is not your fault and we encourage you to reach out to adults you trust for support. You could talk to a teacher or guidance counselor about what has been going on. They could intervene in the situation and ensure you feel safe at school. You mentioned that when you go home you get hit. We are not exactly sure what is going on at home, but if you are being physically harmed or do not feel safe you could consider filing a child abuse report. If you call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 they can help give you more information and offer support through the process. If you decide to talk to an adult at school about what has been going on at home, they will also be able to offer support with abuse reporting.

We are here 24/7 to listen and support. Please feel free to reach out at 1-800-786-2929 or 1800runaway.org if you want to talk more about your situation or explore more options.

[Guest]

Im 12 and I want to run away

My mom and dad hates me and I can tell they already wish I was not alive.I wish I could live at my dads house but that will never happen.So I need to leave so everybody will feel better.Nobody needs me in thneir life so its better if I disappear.

[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 really difficult time. You mentioned that your mother and father hate you, one option you could consider is talking to them about how you feel. At NRS we offer conference calling where if you call us we would call out to your parents and have a conference call. Conference calling is there for us to provide support and allow you to be heard. Another option you may want to consider is talking to a school counselor or licensed therapist, sometimes having these thoughts can be difficult to manage alone. A counselor can help listen and provide heathy resources for you.
If you were to leave home without your parents’ permission, your parents do have the right to file a runaway report. If the police found you they would most likely bring you back home. Your safety is our top concern, so if you do decide to leave home you may want to consider your safety. Things to consider before leaving home are
1) Your safety
2) Where you will go
3) What you will do about money
4) How you will take care of yourself (hygiene, eating, sleeping
5) What the consequences will be.

We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore your options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and provide support. Good luck and please stay strong!
NRS

[Guest]

I want to runaway but i have no one to run for away with can you help

[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