I'm 12 and I want to run Away.

[Guest]

I and my friend are thinking of running away from everything and were thinking of bring someone else along and we don't know how long were running away for so ya I guess that's it but we still are deciding when the perfect time it is to run away bc it's October and we just need advice and were going to come back we just need a break from some personal and family stuff.

this is the school's computer

[ccsmod15]

Hi,

It sounds like you must be dealing with a lot. You all deserve a safe environment, and getting the support you need. It makes sense that you’d want to seek that out, or, if it’s stress, that you’d want to find some way to take a break from that.

You’re asking about the ideal time. It isn’t really about the time so much as working out what problem you are solving by running away, and figuring out a way to be in a safe and secure environment.

Often, youth might leave their families and go stay with a relative or friend. That way they have food, housing, etc, and some support, and depending on your situation, it can be nice for everyone to get a break. We are not legal experts, but our understanding is that if a guardian approves, youth can stay elsewhere.

Because you’re under 18, you’re under guardianship. That means leaving is running away. It’s never illegal to run away. It’s a status offense, which means that if you leave, your guardians can file a runaway report. If they do that, it’s the police’s job to return you to your guardians. Sometimes guardians don’t file a runaway report. So you might think about how likely they’d be to do that, depending on what situation you set up.

There are youth shelters, too. Legally, youth shelters have to notify guardians after a few days, though. We have a database of resources, and we could find a youth shelter near you if you call us or use our chat service.

Your safety is the most important thing. If you do leave home, consider having a way to get in touch with people who you trust who could come get you. It can be helpful to have that just in case the situation you are in changes, or is not what you thought it would be.

Also, consider if there’s additional ways to address some of the issues you’re dealing with. For example, if there’s fights and stuff at home, we do have a database of family counseling services if you call or use our chat. Perhaps, connecting to something like that might help.

Lastly, sometimes youth are looking to leave because they are dealing with neglect, or verbal or physical abuse. If guardians do things like that, they can lose guardianship through child abuse reporting. You can learn more about this option without committing to anything by calling Child Help anonymously. They are mandated reporters, so if you mention abuse and give your name, they have to report it. But you can call anonymously, and ask questions about the process, without having to commit to anything. Their number is: 1-800-422-4453.

We hope some of these ideas are a help to you.

[Guest]

hey i need help. I'm 12 and have a 7 year old sister and a 2 year old brother. My mom is physically, emotionally, and mentally abusing me. She would blame me for little things and beat me with whatever she has in her hand. I want to run away with my siblings because I don't want to leave them alone for my mom to do the same thing to them. I need help but I don't want my mom to get in trouble. Please I really need help ASAP, I'm close to packing our bags right now. I'm depressed and REALLY NEED SOMEONE"S HELP. Please I'm begging anyone to help me right 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 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.
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.
If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 12yrs old and I want to runaway from home. It's been to much for me now and no one is listening to my pain. I need a way to escape and suicide is no where in my thoughts. I just wanna go live w/ my dad. Even tho he has anger issues, I still think he's a better option than going to families who are on my mothers side. They will of course call her and she will just yell at me and tell me I'm wrong and it's just teenage feelings. Never had she or others listened to my prospective about my feelings.They just assume it's an attitude but it's not. I just need a solution. Please help me.

[ccsmod4]

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 would like to be of assistance to you if we can. It is times like these that would be nice to have a listening ear. It is also important that you remember to exercise self- care. You showed some by reaching out to NRS. Good for you. Sometimes talking about things may help to come up with some options that might help to change the situation.
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 so that we might learn a little more about your situation and how we might assist you. 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).

We hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I am 12 I REALLY want to run away

I want to run away cause I'm sick and tired of my sister making things up to get me in trouble all the time I just want to run away with my friends and never look back not even for a second I just feel like I need to run also I'm a fast runner so I can get away pretty quickly I just need to figure out a plan so here is a list.
1.plan it out
2. avoid the cameras
3. pack undetected
4. perfect time and date
5. where in gunna escape
6. where in gunna live
7. save up money
8.take all the resources I need
food, water, drinks, band aids, flashlight, umbrella, sleeping bag, pillow, a knife for protection, and fire equipment.
there are some people who bully me especially my sister she acts like she is cool or acts like I'm her some and smacks me when she wants and that's why I want to run away

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what's happening, it takes a lot of courage. It's great to think logically about what would happen if you ran away and how you would address your basic needs - those are very important things to figure if you decide to leave home. From what you wrote, it seems like your sister is a big reason about why you want to run away. It could be a good idea to speak with a parent about how your sister has been treating you. If you feel uneasy about approaching your parents it may be a good idea to have a conversation mediated by a school counselor/social worker, trusted friend, or family member to help clear the air. If you'd like, you can also call us directly and we can conduct a conference call with your parents so you have a safe environment where you can express yourself. If you think family counseling may be helpful we can also help locate family crisis services agencies near you.

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.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Im 13 and every night after dinner my parents scream at me and my siblings and tell us about all that we do wrong and by the end we are all sobbing. Last night tho he told us to move to hollywood so that liberals can ******** us in the ass and i really want to run away but i don't have any money what can i do

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like the way your parents are treating you is very hurtful and inappropriate. You don’t deserve to be treated in any of these ways, and it’s good that you are reaching out for support. It makes sense that you’re not sure what to do, but you don’t have to go through this alone. We’re a 24/7, anonymous and confidential hotline, and we are here to help: Call us any time at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us online at https://www.1800runaway.org/.
No one deserves to be screamed at by their parents every night under any circumstances, whether you might be doing something wrong, or doing nothing wrong. It sounds really hurtful and unfair for your father to tell you that you should move away, and it is inappropriate for him to say something like that about letting people ******** you. No one deserves to be spoken to that way ever, by anyone, and you don’t either. You deserve to feel safe at home.
It makes sense that you are feeling like you want to run away from home, and it is wise of you to consider your options. Before running away, it might be helpful to think about whether you know any adults, such as another family member, or a parent of a friend, or a teacher, whom you can talk to about what you are going through. Sometimes talking about it with an adult you trust can help you see what your options are and feel supported. It might also be helpful to imagine what would need to change at home for you to feel safer at home. If you are unsure what your options are, you can call us at the NRS and one of our liners can talk through this with you. You can also call the National Child Abuse Hotline any time at 1.800.422.4453.
It can be tough to be a preteen no matter how you are being treated at home, and it makes sense that you are having a hard time figuring out what to do while living with your parents under this kind of treatment. It sounds like you are being a thoughtful and considerate person, and it is a good thing that you are reaching out for support and asking yourself what you need to feel safe and comfortable. You are already doing a good job looking out for yourself, and you do not have to keep going through this without support. Good luck!

[Guest]

HI... i want to runaway.
because my mom is always saying i can go live with my dad and that he lives in a car and one time she told me i could kill myself and she wont care i always wanted to run away but i never ever had the strength to but i'm about to be 12 in 6 day and every time its going to be my birthday or chirsmas i forgo have to spell that to tho BTW...she is always like if you don't be good you wont get this or that like b**** i don't give a f***
PERIODT so what should i do cause i really don't know what to do right now and BTW i want to runaway in the winter so i could get my money and just leave....

BTW this is my schools computer...

[ccsmod13]

Hello! Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. We’re sorry to hear that you’ve been treated that way. You certainly don’t deserve it. Everyone deserves to feel loved by their family and have a place that they can call home.

From what you’ve told us, it sounds like you might be experiencing verbal/emotional abuse. You’re able to report child abuse to your state’s Child Protective Services office if you wish. Child Help is a great resource – if you go to their website (www.childhelp.org/), you can learn more about the reporting process. If you would like to talk about what reporting would look like, want help in filing a report, or want to explore other options, please call us at 1 (800) RUN-AWAY or send us a chat on www.1800runaway.org. We’re confidential, non-judgmental, and available 24/7. We’re here to listen, and we’re here to help.

Good luck & stay safe!

[Guest]

i am 12 and i want to run away because my grandma and mom always want to blame stuff on me people talkk about me and my i wear the same shoes and im done i just want to runaway

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us 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 with figuring out your next steps in this difficult situation. It sounds like your mom and grandma have been really unfair to you and that's been making home really stressful. You deserve to be treated in a way that makes you feel safe and supported.

Sometimes having a safe space to talk about what is going on can help you feel better and brainstorm some options you hadn't thought of before. Perhaps reaching out to an adult in your life that you trust like another family member or school counselor could help you get some support in this situation.

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).


We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

I am 12 years old and I want to run away due to having depression and an anxiety. Added with arguements here at home. I feel like if I do run away, people will forget me, I don't have to worry about the future. I have absolutley no money and no where to go. I could stay at my friend's house but my mom knows where they all live. My mom even told me about if I run away I can get raped, sold for s*x trafficing, and all that. I do live in a bad part of Los Angeles so it's very possible. I also want to run away because I don't think my family is fair. Any little thing can tick me off but I got in trouble and got my phone taken away (thhis message is coming from my chromebook). I don't mean this in a bad way nesessaraly bad but it's usually the older sibling picking on the younger one but my brother teases me non stop like he is actually bullying me. I feel weak at home. I have a loy more stuff but I have to go before my mom catches me. Just please help me.

[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. You definitely don't deserve to be bullied by anyone, especially your brother. 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]

My parents arent here for me and my grandparents are great to me but they really started to hate me i feel i dont wish to run i have thoughts about it god pls help me

[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. 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 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

I'm 12 and I want to run away my parents don't accept me for being gay and whatever so I just don't want to be in the same house as them anymore. My mother always gender profiles me since I'm a girl and makes me do things I don't want to do. I always get picked on about my weight at school and home even though I always try to lose weight. I plan on leaving after Christmas since I'm getting money and a new phone ps this is my mom's phone.

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us. It sounds like you have a tough situation going on with your family. It shows a lot of bravery that you reached out to us. You deserve to be accepted for who you are as someone that is gay. It sounds like home has been hard with your parents as they haven’t accepted you and we are very sorry to hear that. We understand how frustrating it must be to live somewhere you are not accepted for who you are.

While we aren’t legal experts, 18 is generally the age of adulthood in most states. If you do decide to leave home before turning that age, your parent/guardian may file something called a runaway report. Generally, running away isn’t illegal per say, it is something called a status offense. Similar to curfew, you would not be arrested or charged (unless other circumstances exist like being on probation, running away habitually, etc.). In most cases the police will take a report to help try to find the youth and bring them back to their parents/guardians. We know this can be a lot and we are always here to brainstorm and talk about what this means to you and help create a plan with this information in mind.

It may be something you have tried, but we want to mention that an option could be to try to talk to your parents about how they are treating you and how that makes you feel. This could be a way to explore talking about more freedom and seeing if a discussion can bring a compromise to this topic. You do not have to do this alone, you can always think about bringing in a third party like a friend, trusted adult, teacher, etc. to bring in a different perspective. Sometimes having help from someone outside of the family can bring attention to the issue and offer safe ways to bring about change in the home. If you do not feel that is the safest option, we can always brainstorm other ideas that you feel may work and talk about them if you can reach out to us again.

If you can reach out to us again, we would love to hear more about what is going on if you are comfortable. It takes a lot of bravery to reach out to us and talk about what has been going on. We do truly care about you. The Trevor Project is also available to help young people who identify within the LGBTQ who are in crisis and need a judgement free space to talk about what is going on (www.thetrevorproject.org ; 1-866-488-7386). If you want to talk further, we are always here 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY and we also have a chat system at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon!

[Guest]

I am Narcissist and i would cut myself when i was only 7 my Mom died of cancer and I didn’t shed one tear and i hate myself for it and i just want to run away because i want to escape reality

[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.
Another option you may want to look into is a professional, who you can talk through these feelings with. If you contact us directly, we can look up therapists in your area, or you may be able to talk with a counselor at your school. Some resources you can contact on your own are the National Alliance on Mental Illness (text NAMI to 741741 to talk with a crisis worker) and Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services (1-800-662-4357).
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 12 and i’m tired of fake people,

i want to run away because i just don’t feel loved anymore, anything i do turns out wrong, dad is away and we have some issues with money, and i want to run away from fake friends and fake family, they’ll only care if i died, they lie to me and wish me death secretly, lately i’ve learned that my so called ‘bff’ has been lying to me since day one, i don’t know what to do and i have a baby brother that can’t live without me, i’m like his mother, my mom goes out all the time ever since my dad went away to travel, i feel lost, i want to end my life but i have to stay strong for my brother, my friends don’t really care about me anymore, to them i’m just an object to entertain them, for them to have fun with me for me to make them laugh, i’m tired of everything, everybody is just fake to me right now, i think i suffer from depression, and anxiety, but my friends make fun of it...-laura, sorry for wasting your time

[ccsmod8]

Hello –

Thank you for contacting NRS. It was brave of you to reach out for help. From your description, you’re having an extremely difficult time at home and with your friends not really understanding you. It can be very frustrating to talk about your feelings and not get the response or support that you were hoping to get. We can try to help you as best as we can, we are here to help and here to listen.

Now you have mentioned that there are times where is it so stressful that your thoughts drift towards completing suicide or even hurting yourself. That is a very serious thing to be thinking about. If you are ever close to hurting yourself like you said you can call out to the police for some direct services, they can come by and check up on you and make sure that you are okay. You shouldn't be afraid to tell other people what you are thinking about doing especially if you are thinking about hurting yourself. You are certainly not alone in this and there are many many people that are here to help you. A good resource might be to call the ‘National Suicide Hotline’ for someone to talk about what thoughts you might be thinking at the time. Their number is 800.273.TALK. They also have an online chat service that might be of help to you especially if you don’t feel like calling in (https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/). Perhaps there might even be a school counselor or another adult that you trust enough to turn and validate your feelings during this difficult time.

Only you know when you need to leave due to your home being unsafe. Unfortunately no one but you can make that decision for you, not even here. If you are considering running away, then we would want to make sure that you have a safe and solid plan so that you don’t put yourself in a dangerous position. Having a solid plan about what you are planning on doing it might be a good idea so that you can think about what is reasonably possible for you to do and want isn’t (ie. how you will support yourself and how long you may be gone, etc).

Again, we’re really glad that you reached out to us. It takes a lot to ask for help. We encourage you to talk further about your situation so please do not hesitate to call or chat with us. We’re here to listen, here to help.

[Guest]

hello im sorry that u felt this way but that happened to me as welland i still help but it never works

[ccsmod13]

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. You can contact us at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

Thank you, NRS

[Guest]

I’m 13 and want to run away my mom is always telling me how I’m lazing and that it’s my fault people are dying and that im never gonna to something with my life. I’ve been fight depression for 4 years and I’ve been trying to get it together because i have a boyfriend that I need to care for and if I’m depressed than I can’t do that’s I’m trying not to kill myself so running away is my last option

[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 sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now. You don't deserve to be treated that way by your mom. 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. Another great resource is a textline called NAMI, if you text NAMI to 741741 you will be able to talk to a crisis worker trained to talk about mental illness.
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.
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]

To go away

I am a 12 year old girl with big problems. Between self harming, bipolar, depression, stress, and suicidal thoughts I am pretty average. But when I show my scars I say "Oh I was shaving in the shower and my razor fell." Or something of the matter but I am screaming for help inside. I feel like my true self is drowning and burning all at the same time. My parents know nothing of any of this and I refuse to tell them due of ruining their expectations and fear of being sent to therapy. I have thought of running away for atleast 2-3 years now. I started to think about it to myself in 4th grade. Then in 5th I got 3 of my best friends which would be my ex and deep friend (male), a really understanding and crazy friend, then my lying backstabbing ********** of a cousin (female). Me and my 2 deep friends talked and planned it out then my cousin got involved then chickened out. We were supposed to do it awhile ago but we all got scared. Recently me and my ex have been talking about it, rarely, but it always is going through my mind. Mom got mad at me, I will run away to night, but I get really scared and then I don't. Then I end up writing about it and putting it on a index card, inside a envelope, in my closet. I don't know what to do anymore. I will either kill myself or run away, most likely out of state.

I feel you on a hard core level. I'm in the same situation

[ccsmod4]

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.
Other options to consider for services: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
To Write Love on Her Arms is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery. www.twloha.com

Take care,
NRS