I feel like I’m suffocating

[Guest]

I’m 17, turning 18 this year and I can’t stand living under this roof with my parents and siblings any longer. I have dreams to go out to university far from home, maybe spend a year abroad but any attempt at talking about my future with my parents immediately gets shut down with the fact that they won’t let me leave the city. That I have to stay at home and study at a uni nearby. Furthermore they absolutely hate the idea of women in engineering so every chance they get they tell me how disgusted they are about me wanting to pursue this route and make me out to be difficult in not wanting to go into something ‘more appropriate’ for an educated woman like medicine. They treat me like a child of 5 who has no idea what goes on in this world and with all their nagging and invasion of privacy and confinement to this home, not now but perhaps forever is just too much. I can’t talk to them without my parents twisting my words to make me sound like a crazed rambler. I sometimes feel like I can’t breathe and I have no one to talk to about this. I need to leave this place and if it isn’t suicide the only option that comes to mind is running away.

[ccsmod2]

Hi there,
Thank you so much for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. You are so strong for reaching out and we are so sorry to hear that you are struggling. You deserve to feel safe and happy at home.

You mentioned suicidal thoughts. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255, suicidepreventionlifeline.org) is, like us, here for you 24/7.

As for your education, we are so sorry to hear about the sexism you are facing by your own family. One option you have is to reach out to your school counselor about your situation and about different universities and study abroad opportunities. Depending on when your school is in session, your counselor may have summer hours. You can also reach out to a trusted adult or teacher to help you through this difficult time. Additionally, at the National Runaway Safeline, we offer conference calls – a moderated discussion between the caller (youth) and the parent or guardian. Because it is moderated, we make sure that the discussion is respectful and productive. These calls are often helpful in having difficult conversations. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY and we are 24/7, toll-free, and confidential.

Stay strong,
NRS