Leaving at 18.

[Guest]

I just turned 16 years old and I want to be able to leave when I'm 18. I've been having family issues that have caused severe trauma for 6 years now. I'm only now just starting to get my life on track. I wish I had the ability to get emancipated but in my current situation I don't know if it would be exactly achievable. I need to find some way out of this situation that doesn't involve institutionalization. I've been in and out of facilities for the past 4 years and it's helped me realize, that is in no way an option. I'm lucky to have youth on my side but I don't know how much longer my mind, body, and brain can take this. I'm just a scared kid looking for help I guess. I hate making self-help cry's but I'm out of options and I really don't know where to go in life.

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand that it takes great courage to reach out and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s been going on. It is always okay to ask for help and support when you need it. It sounds like you have been going through a tough time and that you would like to leave home as soon as possible because home might not be the best environment for you right now. Since you mentioned you were interested in emancipation, you should know that you can contact the juvenile court system in your county to learn more about the emancipation process, as it can be very state specific and not all states offer emancipation. However, even if your state does offer emancipation, this can be a costly process and might take some time to complete. Some individuals who do not feel like home is the best environment for them might try to spend more time at school or participate in extracurricular programs that will help minimize the amount of time they have to spend at home. Others individuals have also tried to get a job so that they can have the option to be more financially independent once they do turn 18 years old. These are just some possible ideas, but we understand that every situation is unique and that what works for some people may not work for others. You are more than welcome to reach out to NRS by phone or by chat and we would be happy to talk more with you about your specific situation.


You also mentioned that you are not sure how much longer your mind, body, and brain can take what you are going through. If you are ever feeling like harming yourself in any way, please know that you can always reach out to NRS and chat about what is going on. We are here as support to help through this challenging time. Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). Another resource is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, as they would be happy to chat with you as well. 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