Do I have a valid reason for running away?

[Guest]

Hi I'm new to the chats so please dont be mean. This will be my third time running away. Do I have a valid reason for leaving? I really dont know at this point because theres nothing physically happening this time.
In the past my stepbrother assaulted me for a long time and my family didnt believe me when I told them. Cps and police were involved multiple times but never did anything. My dad used to hit me in the past and both he and my stepmom verbally abused me. My stepsiblings continue to ignore me on a daily basis for over two years. I dont get to eat with my family on Thanksgiving because I was too nervous to sit close to my stepbrother. Theres no abuse going on right now unless you count emotional abuse. I just feel so much hatred in this house and I want to be free. I cant go in the living room because no one will talk to me and i feel uncomfortable. Sometimes i get paranoid my stepbrother will kill me or do something but apart of me doesnt think he would. I'm planning on gathering as much essential materials as possible for the next few months before i leave.
In the past both of my runaway attempts have lasted around four days. This time i plan on leaving for a year at the most and if I get caught I'll just keep leaving. I plan on hitting the streets and coming back when I'm 17. I've tried everything in my power to not come to this but all my options have failed me. I was planning on getting emancipated but my dad said the courts will never let me leave early and emancipation doesnt sound realistic.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. Your stepbrother's actions were not acceptable and CPS and the police failing to intervene must be really frustrating. It may be a good idea to talk to your family about family counseling or perhaps having a conversation mediated by a trusted friend or family member so you have a safe space to share how you feel. You may even want to see if your parents would be open to you staying elsewhere (even if just for the summer or weekends, etc.). Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

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.

Stay safe,
NRS