I'm 12 and I want to run Away.

[Guest]

Hello, I’m 12 years old and I would like to run away from home. I think I am going into depression and I have really bad anxiety and I think it’s coming from my parents. They really stress me out. I do not get abused but every time I am laying in bed and think about what’s wrong and why I’m upset I feel like my parents are kind of making me really depressed and I don’t know what to do. I have been wanting to run away for a long time now but I want to do it legally without getting in trouble but I’m afraid my parents will find me and I will get in really bad trouble with them. I’m very stressed out. My mom and dad fight sometimes and that really brings me down. I really need some advice on what to do please

[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.
The easiest way to leave home is with your parents' permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.
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 would like to look into further support options, you can text with a crisis worker at the National Alliance on Mental Illness 24/7 by texting "NAMI" to 741741.
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

Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

hey im 12 and i want to run away just beacuse my family judge me of how i look or what i wear but i also just want to go somewhere and be away from the people and just want to be alone.

[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, and we want you to know that you are not alone.
You do not deserve to be judged for who you are and what you wear and we are sorry you are going through that. One option to consider is to talk with a trusted adult about what you are going through, sometimes it helps to have some support. We know you mentioned wanting to run away, we are not legal experts but we do have some information on what could happen. If you were to leave home without permission your legal guardian could file a runaway report. If the police were to find you they most likely would bring you back home.
We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any more questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide support to you. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

My dad is always saying I need to lose weight and I can’t take it anymore. And now he’s got me on a diet. It makes me either wanna cut myself or overdose. I need help and i don’t know what to do. I feel so ashamed of who I am and how fat I am.

[ccsmod15]

Hey there thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline,
It seems like you are going through a lot of pressure regarding your weight and it’s causing a lot of stress. You don’t deserve to be shamed like that by your dad, to the point that you are considering self-harm or suicide. Your body is unique to you and you should have sole sovereignty over it. You shouldn’t need to feel ashamed of who you are because of your physical appearance based on the words and feelings of others who haven’t lived your life. The only person who should be able to guide you on your weight should be a doctor if your life is in danger of being adversely affected by your weight.
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,

[Guest]

Hi Am 12 and i want to run away with in the next couple of days i get really sad and i think of doing sue- a- side i want someone to go with i have all most everything pack
plz help

[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. Even with things so overwhelming it isn’t safe to ask strangers for help running away over the internet. Your safety is our first priority and we are here to help you find a safe place to go if you do choose to run.
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 13 and want to run away from my home.
I have no struggles at home but I have personal struggles myself, I feel like running away would help me with them, letting me calm down and feel free. I’ve been wanting to run away for 2 years now, I have a whole plan and list of everything I need. I just want to leave and never come back, having a life of my own is something I dream of and i can’t wait any longer.

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for contacting us here at NRS and we appreciate you sharing your situation with us. It sounds like you have been feeling overwhelmed at home and you want to have some time away to relax. Keeping so many hard feelings bottled up is really difficult and it's understandable you would want to reach a calming place. Making a plan to leave was definitely a smart idea to help yourself stay as safe as possible. Running away can be very dangerous though, so having a safe place to go would be very important. Perhaps there are friends or family members you might be able to stay with that you can talk to about how you are feeling.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. Reaching out to a counselor, friend, family member or another adult that you trust could also be a good outlet for you as well. Talking about your struggles and your feelings could help you find the space to calm down without having to runaway. If you are not quite ready to talk with someone in person yet, we encourage you to chat with a counselor at suicidepreventionlifeline.org or by texting "connect" to 741741.

We truly want to be a support for you as you decide on your next steps. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out again by phone or chat if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options. You can contact us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 11 and me And my bestie want to run away

Well I don't have problems or is being abused it's because when someone is in real pain or bleeding I think it's real funny to see them in pain aswell as my best friend we just want to protect my family asell as hers, I have been calling myself an "idiot" and "mistake" for simple mistakes

[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.
The easiest way to leave home is with your parents' permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.
If you are worried about harming others, it may be helpful to contact a mental health professional. We can also check to see if there are behavioral programs in your area that may help you work through these concerns. If you would like to look into further support options, you can text with a crisis worker at the National Alliance on Mental Illness 24/7 by texting "NAMI" to 741741.
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 turning 13. I want to run away too lol.

My family argues a lot and I've been trying to calm them down. These days I don't really bother anymore. A couple of hours ago my dad and my mum had a giant argument because my dad was jealous of me. It's 7:30 right now and I've been planning to run away tonight when they're asleep to my friend's place. If it doesn't work I might just give up. I'm sick of smiling at everyone and calming them down. I'm sick of people saying stuff and I just laugh it off and make everyone feel better. I like my dad, he doesn't have anger issues or anything but these days I really hate him, my mum is all supportive and such but sometimes she overreacts. But strangely when I told her about killing myself this and last year, she didn't take it seriously. Probably because I was laughing when I said it.

There was a time that arguments between my parents really heated up, my brother tried to intervene to stop them and it just got worse like really bad, I ended up crying out of panic. I hadn't tried to get involved in an argument ever since. Seems like my dad is a little pissed about me these days and gets angry at me a lot. Sometimes my dad lectures about how much he doesn't like me and how he wished he never had children and such, my dad isn't the kind to own up to anything. He thinks that he's right all the time, goes quiet and sulks when he is wrong and is a really big hypocrite.

All my good memories made with my family and friends is when I'm laughing and smiling, but I feel like a third of the time I'm smiling with them that its fake. But because of those fake happy memories, I still want to live happily with my family. But because of those fake happy memories, I feel like happiness is fake. I want to live but I don't. I want to run but I want to stay. I appreciate what I have already gotten from life, but at the same time, I feel like staying for more means I have to cope with suffering. My family is an overall happy, joyful household, but we have our polar opposites.

I want to tell them so much about how much each of them suck and that how everyone fails to see their own problems and blames it on everyone else, its like an endless circle. I want to tell them so this all stops and I can live and get on with high school fine, that I don't have to end up going into the bathroom and crying with my friend about being afraid to go home. Part of me has a strong will and confidence to go home, but when it is time to my body stiffens and keeps me in place. I already tried to run away when i went to the "toilet" at the mall, but when i had the chance to my feet didn't let me. If i told my family to sit with me and chat about it they would get mad.

I'm probs going to leave in about 4-5 hrs, my dad stays up late some nights tho so it might not work.

I'm sorry for rambling so long. Hope you can help me.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. The National Runaway Safeline is located in the United States of America (USA). Our knowledge of helpful community based resources and our understanding of youth in crisis related laws is limited to the USA. If you are located in a country outside of the USA, you can use this link to find a youth helpline in or around your country: https://www.childhelplineinternation...pline-network/.

We hope that by reaching out to a local resource, you are able to get the support you need from an organization that understands the laws and circumstances that affect youth in your country.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 12 and I really want to run away

since March is 2020 my dad has been only putting pressure on me. He says I do bad at everything and that I’m not smart and so on.... at the time my mom was kinda supportive. More recently they keep saying that I don’t help around in the house even though I do everything they also say I’m on my iPad way too much but that’s only because my dads working all the time and whenever I try to talk to him he screams same with my mom and then they say I’m not part of the family and I hate my parents and I love my iPad more. I have attempted suicide 3 times but all failed each time I thought my parents would love me more but no. My mom is also abusive she will ask random questions like did you eat and I answer no she slaps me same thing with other questions. I can’t take it anymore. They told me they would send me to another country to boarding school where they can kill me. I’ve been thinking about running away to South Dakota orphanage but it’s a 7 day walk because we live in MO. Can you give me some places where other people can adopt me? Can I walk into an orphanage and be welcome to stay there?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for contacting us here at NRS and we appreciate you sharing your situation with us. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and 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 1-800-273-8255 (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org) is always available if you need someone to talk to about how you have been feeling. Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of.

You do not deserve to be physically harmed or made to feel unwanted. Home is supposed to be somewhere you feel safe and supported. It is not okay that your parents or not creating that environment for you. Unfortunately it is not that easy to be removed from your parents' custody or placed into foster care. You do have the option to make a report to child protective services. This would likely lead to an investigation where someone from CPS would come to talk with you and your parents to help address the issues at home. You might not be removed from the home immediately, but it could start a process with that outcome. If CPS find you are not safe at home, they would help to find you an alternative living arrangement. If you would like to learn more about the reporting process and how to start a report, you can speak with an advocate at www.childhelp.org.

If you would like to talk more about your situation, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. We are available 24/7 for immediate support by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or through live chat services at 1800runaway.org. We are here to listen and help you explore your possible options.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

re:I'M 12 AND I WANT TO RUN AWAY


HI I'M 12 YEARS OLD AND I WANT TO RUN AWAY BECAUSE I HAVE NO FREEDOM ALL I DO IS STAY IN THE HOUSE AND WATCH KIDS I DON'T HAVE NO PHONE NOTHING TO DO SOME TIMES I THINK ABOUT JUMPING OUT OF MY WINDOW EVERY SENSE MY DAD DIED MY WHOLE LIFE HAS CHANGED AND I HATE IT HERE BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS GETTING ACCUSED FOR NOT WATCHING THESE KIDS AND ALWAYS GETTING LIED ON ONE TIME I HUNG MYSELF AND THEN I GOT ABUSE I GET ABUSED A LOT LIKE WHEN MY BROTHERS SNEAK IN ALL THE FOOD AND SNACKS OR WHEN SHE SO CALL SO I WAS NOT WATCHING THEM I HAVE A SISTER SHE 14 BUT SHE ACT LIKE SHE TO GROWN TO LISTING TO ME AND I GET CALLED **********S,HOES,SLUT,AND A MAN AND I GET HIT WITH POLES,STICKS,TREE BRANCHS,AND MORE I WANT TO RUN AWAY BUT I'M SCARED I'M GOING TO GET KIDNAPED OR RAPED AND NEVER SEE MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTER AGAIN AND I'M A GIRL

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at NRS and we appreciate you sharing your story with us. It sounds like home home has become overwhelming and it is making you think about running away.It is not okay that your family members are hitting you or calling you names. You deserve to be treated with respect and to feel safe at home. Having to take on so much responsibility at home including having to care for younger siblings is very unfair to you. This would be stressful for anyone and you should be able to have the opportunity to just be a kid! 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 1-800-273-8255 (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org) is always available if you need someone to talk to about how you have been feeling. Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of.

As you mentioned leaving home without a safe place to stay or someone to go to for support can be very dangerous and put your life at risk. A helpful start could be to reach out to friends, family members, or other adults you trust to ask if you can stay with them. Sometimes having an adult involved to advocate for your needs can make it easier to communicate with parents about what you need to change at home. Perhaps this person could also help you talk with your parents about living somewhere else.

You do have the option to make a report to child protective services if your safety is a concern. Making a report can be a scary decision to make, but you do not have to do it alone. You can speak with an advocate at childhelp.org to learn more about what the reporting process might be like for you.

We truly want to be a support for you during this difficult time. We are here 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly if you would like to talk more about your situation and explore your possible options. You can contact us for immediate support by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or through live chat at 1800runaway.org.

Stay strong,
NRS

[Guest]

i need help. i am being bullied and i don't know what to do. they think they are cool and popular because they are but i cant do any thing to get back at them for being mean to me.
i also hate my house and my dad and i don't know what to do. i really need some good help soon. please help and respond quickly.

[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. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. You do not deserve to be treated like that. You are not alone in this. 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]

im 12 years old and i suffer from depression and my parents are kinda weird because they treat me like im just the person in the house who everybody goes to to let their anger out on, and they literally will scream at me and yell at me calling me a ********** and to shut the ******** up when i never actually do anything and then when i get mad they yell again like im only allowed to be happy. its kinda like mental abuse too. they're fine sometimes, but i cannot stand living in my life at all i just dont want it and i get told not to commit suicide but i want to at least do something. and i dont really have anybody to go to either because of something else that happened, but i really want to leave, ive been looking at mental health facilities, but i dont think i could survive that either please help me i promise im not being overdramatic

[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 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]

hi im 12 and i want to run away bc my parents make me do religious things but I don't want to do them bc im not religious and they gave me bad anxiety that I can't talk to other people and be myself. they scare me. they also made me very insecure about myself. but i have no ware to go.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension, you shouldn't have to do anything that you are uncomfortable with. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

It sounds like your parents don't realize that their actions and approaches are making you feel anxious and insecure. Sometimes, it can be helpful to have a 3rd party present when trying to talk about your feelings with your parents. That way you would have someone to help advocate for you. It could be a good idea to work with a local family counselor or 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’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options (and places to go) 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

We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

I genuinely want to see how this can “change my mind”. I’m also a 12 year old. Many people assume I don’t know anything or don’t hear what I have to say, because of my age. However I found this and it seems like you all don’t judge these 12 year olds. So my problem is that my mother is toxic. My family has no idea who I really am. I also could put on a pretty good mask because they don’t seem to notice how much pain I went through and am still going through. I’m about to turn 13 on August 1st. I just haven’t made up my mind. I’m just curious how this whole thing works.

[ccsmod4]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline.

It sounds like you are in a tough situation and may be looking for some options to help cope with everything.
We understand how difficult it can be for someone to reach out and talk about their situation.
You are very brave for doing so. Good for you.
NRS would like you to know we are here to support you at this difficult time.
Let us know how we might help, please contact us at 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) orwww.1800Runaway.org (live chat).
NRS is here to listen and here to help.
Having a space to vent and explore options may often bring out a solution previously not thought of. We can best help by phone or chat. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

My mother is toxic and my family is ********ed up my dad has been referred to as a women abuser by two separate women in my family but I currently live with my mother she calls me horrible names ranging from ********** to psychopath when I bring this up she gaslights me and or calls me delusional she once even dared me to jump off our balcony when she was blocking the door so I stood on balcony to get her away from the door (we live on the 8th floor of a apartment building) I am 13 and at a loss of what to do.

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for reaching out to NRS, we understand it can take a great deal of courage to reach out. What you are describing sounds like emotional and verbal abuse that could be leaving you scared and lonely. You do not deserve to be treated this way by your parents who should support and care for you. It is definitely understandable why you would feel the need to talk with someone as you are going through these trying times. We would be happy to support you in anyway whether that be giving you space to talk about what you are going through or helping you think through options. Please do not hesitate to reach out at any time, we are open 24/7. You can call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or live chat with us through our website. Although you may be feeling lonely as you navigate options that feel safe for you, we are always here to help in anyway that we can. We hope to hear from you soon.

Best of luck and stay safe,
NRS