Almost 18 but cant stay another day here

[Unregistered]

Ive been fighting with my dad forever. He always got angrier at me than my other siblings. My dad is Indian and my mom is from the U.S. My dad's job had my family go overseas, where i was born. I remember my dad hitting me with his belt and hands across my face, arms, and stomach as early as three years old. because it happened in another country i dont think i can do anything about it. He stopped when i was probably 8, but continued to hit me across the face until i was 11 and we moved to the U.S. He has yelled at me since forever and will not let me live a normal life. My mom disagrees with him sometimes but never speaks up for me. She told me he punishes me the way he does because of his culture and i should just let it happen. Often times they gang up on me and accuse me of being rude or selfish and a bad kid. My friends are always asking me why i cant do things and why my parents are so strict. I fight with them all the time. because of all of this I have anxiety and depression. The fist time i considered suicide was when i was 12. I tried to do it when i was 16 but my mom found me and made me go to a councler. Im a little more stable now but still not happy. Ive been wanting to move out since i was 8 and have been reseaching how to since i was 15. I work 2 jobs but dont have enough money to pay for housing, food, high school or college. I hate where i am right now and want so badly to get out of here. Ill turn 18 at the beginning of my senior year of high school but if i move out then i cant go to my school anymore and i wont be able to go to college or have a future. Im so desperate to get out of here that im looking at homeless shelters to stay in until i get enough money to pay for the cheapest room or apartment i can find. Im willing to sleep in a garage, dangerous part of town, or with sketchy roommates to get away from my parents. I'll probably join the military when i graduate so that i wont have to see my parents for a long time and hopefully forever if im succesful after.. How do i get out of here?? please help me!!

[ccsmod10]

RE: Almost 18 but cannot stay another day here

Hello there,

Thanks for reaching out to us during this difficult time. We are sorry to hear you are being abused, nobody deserves to be hit or made to feel afraid in their own home. It sounds like your mom is unsupportive of you as well. Do you have any other family members who are supportive of you? If not, what other options have you considered? It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into how you can safely leave.

www.nationalsafeplace.org is a website that can show you all the safe places in your area. You do have the right to go to a shelter if you feel unsafe at home. You also mentioned that you have had suicidal thoughts before. The National Suicide Hotline is a good resource to reach out to as well if you are thinking about self-harm. They can be reached at any time at 1-800-273-TALK.

You also mentioned that you were thinking about leaving home legally. Just to let you know we are not legal experts. Although it’s not against the law for you to run away from home, anyone you would be caught staying with could possibly be charged with ‘harboring a runaway’. Another option to leave home legally would be to look into emancipation. We can help you research this if you would like. We can be reached at any time at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or by live chat at www.1800runaway.org from 4:30pm-11:30pm Central Standard Time.

- NRS