I don't know what to do

[Unregistered]

Hi. I'm 18 years old and I'm being emotionally abused by my mother. It didn't register in my mind that she has been doing this to me for years. She calls me names, and tells me that I'm worthless and that I'm the reason for all her problems. At night, she drinks a lot and cries and begs me to forgive her. She has emotionally traumatized me to the point where I'm afraid to go home, my dad doesn't really do anything about any of this and I don't want to tell him because he'll think I'm over exaggerating. It got really bad because she found out I lost my virginity and didn't tell her. She told me I was disgusting and that I need to "go to church." I'm about to start a job so I can save up for college but I have the option of living with my aunt, can I legally leave even if I'm still in high school?

[ccsmod8]

RE: I don't know what to do

Hello there –

Thank you for reaching to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. We hope that by helping you on our public forum that others that might be in similar situations or the same questions, can read through and find our reply helpful. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on. It’s brave of you to reach out during your time of need. No one deserves to be treated like that at all. Sounds like there are some big issues that you're going through, namely the emotional abuse and you leaving home without parental permission. We are here to help you in any way that we can.

We are not here to tell you what you should do or what would be best for you. That decision is yours because it’s your life to live. Our goal is to make sure you’re safe in whatever you decide to do. It must be getting to the point where it’s all overwhelming since you are thinking about running away from home. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on and thinking about what would happen if you did leave to live with your aunt. Generally what typically happens in each state is if you are below the legal age of majority (18 in most states except Alabama and Nebraska [19 or upon marriage], and Mississippi [21]), your parents or legal guardian would be able to make a runaway report in the event that you do run away.

Given the fact that you are over the age of 18 years old, technically you are considered an adult and are allowed to move out on your own if you choose to. So if you were wanting to go live with your Aunt now you are able to do so. Another thing that you might want to consider if what you overall plan is when moving out and living with your aunt (i.e long term housing, transportation, financial stability, access to food/clothes, school, etc.) 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.

We hope that this information helps and if you need further help please feel free to reach out to us here on our 24 hour hotline.