I'm 12 and I want to run Away.

[Guest]

HI i wanna run away

My mom and i have never got along and she has really been tuff on me latley my parents are divorced and my dad is remairred and we get along really well. I suffer from anxiety bipolar deprisson and sucidal thoughts i have been wanting to run away sence like the 4th grade every scince my parents moved my school.i think i might run away today to my friends house she said she will help me im really close to her family pleaseeee help me!!!

[ccsmod15]

Hey there, thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline,
It seems like you have been through a lot and that things at home have made your mental health issues come out more and be harder to manage. It seems like you are feeling like your mom isn’t being supportive of you through this difficult time and it’s understandable to feel like you need to get out of that situation.
It seems like your mental health is your major concern and reason for feeling like home isn’t the right place to be. We recommend nami.org for more information about mental health issues and to find options for coping. If your suicidal thoughts continue or get worse there is also the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at suicidepreventionlifeline.org or at 1-800-273-8255. If you feel you are an imminent threat to yourself please call 911 for immediate help. We also encourage you to reach out to a therapist, or talk to your school counselor about these feelings.
If you were to try and leave without letting your mom know then she may try to get the police involved by filing a missing person, or runaway report. You wouldn’t necessarily get in trouble but police could make you go back home. There would also be a chance that your friends’ parents could get in legal trouble for harboring a runaway as well. You may want to ask your parents if you can stay with your friend for a weekend or a week to decompress and get a break from them for a while.
Hopefully these options give you a good place to start. If you just need someone to talk to about your situation, or have more specific questions you can reach out to our hotline at 1-800-786-2929, or use our online chat at 1800runaway.org.
Good Luck,
NRS.

[Guest]

Hi, I'm 13 and I've been debating on whether or not to run away for a while now.

Of course throughout the years the thought has crossed my mind just when I'm imagining random situations but I never actually thought about really doing it until recently. I have researched things to bring and I even have a bag packed, a knife and pocket knife ready when I am, and all the cash I have. It's ready, though I still need to find a tent first. The only reason I haven't left yet is because of my family. I feel ungrateful and selfish thinking about this because I don't even have it bad at all. My parents are caring and make sure I am alright when they can, but I'm always really distant from them. My sister is also amazing, too, and we're even thinking about moving houses. Nothing's wrong at home or school or anything. I just don't feel like I can stay here any longer. I feel like I can't be myself when I'm here and like I need to find out who I am. I know I'm only 13 but I like being alone better. Next year when I'm 14 I'll be old enough to get a part time job. Until then I could just sometimes do things like mowing someone's lawn, some little jobs like that to get some money. I'm not talking about being LGBTQ+ when I'm saying I can't be myself. I don't know how to explain it, but I can feel it. Everyone says I look like my mom but I don't see it. I've always felt adopted, and if not adopted maybe that my mom cheated and that's why I still look like her. I don't think that she would do that though which is why I still feel adopted. I have Blonde curly hair while my dad has DARK brown, almost black, straight hair. My mom has a light brown hair color, and her hair used to be straight up until around her 30's when it got wavy. They also both have dark brown eyes while I have blue/grey/green eyes(they change color). My sister also has dark brown straight hair and brown eyes. Now you see part of the reason I think that. I've asked multiple times if I was adopted and they always say no, but I have never felt like I fit in with my own family. I've asked to take a DNA test and they always say no.I also think I have ADHD but I haven't been tested for it yet. My dad doesn't want me to because he doesn't think I have it and that it would be a waste of time. My mom may let me, but I don't know with my dad. It also seems like my anxiety has been getting worse. It's never really been a problem, just normal occasional anxiety over I don't even know what. But recently it seems to be getting worse and i don't know why. I just don't feel like I can stay here much longer. I don't know what to do.

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It 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]

Hi I want to run away because my life is just stressful!! I've been abused by my siblings dad but that's over ever since we moved to SC! My mom's boyfriend is an a****** and my family doesn't understand me!! I need someone to run away with!! No one understands!

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us here at NRS. We understand it takes a lot of courage to reach out and we appreciate you sharing a bit about your situation. Abuse of any kind is never okay at not your fault. It sounds like you have not been getting much support at home and its become overwhelming. You deserve to be treated with respect and to feel heard. Living with family members who are not supportive or who are abusive can definitely get stressful. Reaching out for help was a great first step to getting any support you might need.

We want talk with you more in depth about what is going on at home so that we can better help you discover your options. Sometimes having a safe place to talk through things can help you brainstorm ideas you hadn't thought of previously. Our email and Bulletin services are different in that we can only respond twice. If you would like to talk more in detail about your situation and receive immediate help, we encourage you to reach out to us through our hotline at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at 1800runaway.org (click on the CHAT button on our website homepage).

We look forward to hearing from you soon so that we can help,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 12 and I recently started thinking about running away. I’m not getting abused I just get cussed out every day and I have too much pressure with baseball I just don’t know where to go.

[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. It sounds like you are feeling frustrated by pressures at home and in sporting activities. You don’t deserve to be cursed at by anyone. It’s not your fault that this is happening. If you would like to talk about how you might be able to communicate that you are uncomfortable with how someone speaks to you or how you might look for options to cope with stress, 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).

We hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi.I'm 11 years old and I wanna run away.my parents always hit me and I have scared to prove it.I have called 911 before but they didn't believe me.my family have a app that tracks me and I'm scared of what there gonna do to me.my sister hits me to and my brother spits on me.they call me fat and obese and a animal.please help me.it's either running away or killing myself.please help me

[ccsmod15]

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 don’t deserve to be called names by your siblings, and shouldn’t have to feel afraid of your family like that. It is understandable to want to take actions to improve the situation however you can.

It sounds like things are painful at home with your family and you’re considering harming yourself if things don’t change. Your safety and well-being is important and you don’t deserved to be mistreated. 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.

You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

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 treated wrongly and I wish to run away

[ccsmod6]

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

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I feel so depressed and sad.. I keep on thinking about suicide

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now. It sounds like you’re fearing that the situation may end in suicide if things don’t change. Your safety and well-being is important. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255); www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org is also a great resource to reach out to in addition to our crisis services.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. This may be an isolating and lonely time for you, but you are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon. Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe and stay strong,
NRS

[Guest]

Im 12 and i really want to run away my parents have nothing to do with this its school and my bratty sister. im always picked on at school becuase of my weight and im sick of it my sister always gets me in trouble i allready have a youth shelter picked out i have about 250 bucks im good to go.

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to share a bit about your situation with us. It was very brave of you to reach out for support from us here at NRS. It sounds like the problems at school and at home with your sister have become quite overwhelming and you are thinking about leaving home. You do not deserve to be bullied at school for any reason and it is not okay that other students are making you feel uncomfortable. You do deserve to be treated with respect and kindness both at home and at school.

We care a lot about your safety and we truly want to be a support for you during this difficult time. Running away from home can be dangerous and put your life at risk. We take your concerns and frustrations seriously and want to help you brainstorm other options or ways to stay safe. Sometimes just having a safe space talk through your situation can be allow you to brainstorm ideas you hadn't thought of previously. We encourage you to reach out to any adults that you trust or that might be able to act as a support system for you. This could be your parents, a teacher, counselor, principal, or religious community. We want you to know that you do not have to go through this alone.

You can contact us directly 24/7 by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or through our live chat at 1800runaway.org so that we can talk more in-depth about this and better support you. We are here to listen and help as much as possible.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I'm 12 and I want to run way with my cousin/best friend because my life is hard to me I always get the blame, I feel like a disappointment and my parents barely say good job or I'm proud of you they yell at me and call me names sometimes like stupid, bi**** or a-hole and I always get in trouble for nothing and get everything token away and my dad is in prison.

[ccsmod4]

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

With 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 would like to be treated in a fair way and not be yelled at or called names. You don't deserve to be treated or hurt emotionally. It’s not your fault that this is happening.

We are sorry to hear about your dad’s situation. Something like that can be difficult to navigate your feelings.

Sometimes having a place where you can vent about what’s going on and how it is making you feel can be helpful in relieving any stress you may be feeling.

NRS is here to listen and here to help. If you would like to talk more about your situation and explore some options for help, please contact 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or www.1800runaway.org (Live chat).

You did a good job by reaching out to NRS.

Stay strong and take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 12 and my parents are extremely homophobic and racist and I just cant take it anymore everyday feels like hell like I'm trapped in a box. The only people I like in my family are my pets. I just cant take it anymore

[ccsmod7]

Hello there,

Thanks for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. You made a great first step to finding the help that you may need. It sounds like you are going through a lot and the people around you are not unsupportive and do not have the same values you possess. You deserve to be treated with respect, to experience acceptance, and to feel safe.

We want you to know that it is perfectly okay to deviate from what others or the common population believe to be “normal”. You’re bravery and resilience is admirable. You are so strong to go through so much without having the acceptance that you do deserve for just being you. Remember that you are not alone. You are resourceful and it is wonderful you have your loving pets by your side. If you ever want to talk more about what you are experiencing or get additional support we are here 24/7 at 1800-RUNAWAY or our live chat service. The GLBT National Hotline at 1888-843-4564 is another option to gain great support from those that are familiar with the issues and experiences of those that are also a part of the LGBTQ community. You can access their website link bellow to utilize all the other possibly useful resources they have to offer: http://www.glbthotline.org/

If you can give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or reach out through Live Chat we can try to find some additional resources that may be near your city and state if you wish to pursue more support.

Stay Strong,
NRS

[Guest]

im 12 but ive been depressed for 3 years now and i cant do this anymore, i hate my family they were the only people i could trust and yet they f*cked me over too so i just want to run away but my family locks everyhting so its impossible for me to escape because i used to sneak out alot so tbh im either going to commit or just run away and live my life

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to listen and here to help. Going through depression can be really tough and we want you to know that you do not need to go through it alone. One really good resource that may help you is called NAMI (national alliance for mental illnesses). They can be reached at 1800-950-NAMI.
We know you mentioned wanting to run away, we are not legal experts but we do have some information on the laws. If you were to run away your legal guardian does have the right to file a runaway report. If the police were to find you they most likely would bring you back home. We know you also mentioned wanting to end your life, and we want you to know you are valuable and you are worth living. There is someone always willing to listen and provide support to you. Ending your life is a permeant decision to a temporary situation. You can always contact The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at: 1800-273-8244.
We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please chat with us or give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support to you. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 12 years old and my dad is abusive and my siblings hate me and I’m not happy at home and i want to run away but I have a sister that I can stay with who is very supportive and loves me

[Guest]

Can i runaway to my grandma she is very in shape to take care of me she has a job , can put me in school, can give me emotional and physical and verbal support and can take care of my needs until we find a legal plan. Im pretty sure my mom wont give permission when i decide to run away but she is verbally and emotionally abusive and is always name calling me treating me like a slave and turning my siblings against me so if i make a child abuse report my siblings will be no help at evidence because my mom has them all tangled up in this lie. I was also diagnosed with depression and anxiety a 2 years ago. Im planning to run away this weekend. I just hope my grandma wont get in trouble. Also my grandma was and foster parent years back.( Just letting you know) Will she get in trouble i decided to run away she didnt encourage me she was just there when i want her to be.

[ccsmod15]

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