18 year old runaway

[Unregistered]

It's so Hard

I honestly wouldn't know where to start, I am so depressed. I blame it all on my mom, as immature as it sounds I honestly can't put up with her. I am 18, and she is very controlling to the point where she controls what classes I take in college. I'm so sick of this. My parents are divorced and both remarried, and every time I do anything wrong, it could be big, or small she throws out her hurtful words. I've been called b***, a s***, a devil and many more hurtful things by her. I always cry my eyes out, I fell in love with this guy who was becoming a lawyer last year. And because I didn't tell them right away, they made my life a living hell for the next 6 months. And my step dad said he couldn't take me anymore. It was literally the only time i gave them a hard time. I look back and say my mom does this because she loves me. But then I think again and I really notice my mom is so selfish. She got her mother out of her life and my dad and now I just can't be around her. Every time we're around each other it's like hell. I stress out every time i come from college hoping shes in a good mood. I stress out when I wake up hoping shes in a good mood, I stress out even after she comes home. My life literally is living nightmare. I ask myself do i love her? It's so hard to answer because she's hurt me so much in my life and i can't think of her as my mom. I try and try i got a 3.8 on my gpa in college and she was mad. I'm so stressed living with her is nightmare, I'm at the point where I don't know what to do anymore. I can't take it. I've had breakdowns and i've been through so much. I'm scared to leave though because knowing my parents i would never be able to turn back. I don't want to do something i'll regret for the rest of my life. And I don't want to be here any more I can't take it. My mom has made me hate my self but I've learned not to. I feel so worthless around her. My parents are well off and won't give me anything. I'm thinking of moving out to a homeless shelter and living there without them. And start to build my life from there.

[ccsmod3]

18 year old runaway

Hello there,

We’re really glad you reached out to us for help; it sounds like you’re going through a lot. We are very sorry to hear you have been called hurtful words by your mother. It sounds like you work really hard in college and your mom is still mad. You shared you don’t want to do something you’ll regret for the rest of your life, so it does seem like you are trying to think ahead. At 18, you may have more options than you would if you were a minor. Going to a homeless shelter may be an option and some cities even have transitional living programs for your age group. We are here to continue discussing your situation and can be reached directly either by calling us 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929.) Or, if you prefer to stick to online communication, we offer Live Chat every day from 4:30 to 11:30pm CST. Simply click on the red Live Chat button, http://www.1800runaway.org. Hopefully this gives you a start and we hope to talk or chat with you soon!

-NRS

[Unregistered]

question

im 17 and i will be turning 18 in 2 weeks and i ranaway with my boyfriend in mexico can they do anything if i ran away frm usa to mex when im 18??

[ccsmod1]

RE: Question

Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us for help. You should know that running away across international borders comes with additional risks, but that once you turn 18 you will not be considered a runaway. Do you have a plan for how you will survive once you reach your destination, or how you can stay safe? The questions at this link might help you figure out if you have a reasonable plan: http://www.1800runaway.org/Should-I-Run-Away/

If you need someone to talk to about your situation or you just need to talk, give us a call 24/7 at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or contact us on www.1800RUNAWAY.org for live chat every day between 4:30pm and 11:30pm CST. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.

[Unregistered]

planning to leave when 18

Hi,
I just wanna say my mom is like overprotective. Shes really strict, she took away my cell phone and im not allowed to talk to ANYONE and i go to independedt school so i dont talk to anyone at school either . She recently took me out of public school . She wants me to have friends ONLY if they are her religion. I dont want to talk to the people i go to church witj . I dont like them. And she killed my sociallife. I want to go back to Public school at least one year to have peolple to talk to but she wont let me. I just feel depressed now a days because i cant talk to my friends about my life and how i feel. Im not close with my parents and i never tell them how i feel. They dont even know i used to cut myself . Im better now but im just tired of being socialy dead. Im planning to runaway when im 18 which is in three years with myestfriend. We have known eachother for 8 years now im just scared of my parents and what will happen if i do succeed in leaving. Idont want to worry them and i want them to respect my decision

[ccsmod4]

18 year old runaway

Hi,

Thanks for contacting the National Runaway Safeline.

We understand how frustrated you must feel about your situation at home with your mom.
It sounds like there are a few issues that are causing problems with you and your mom communicating.
We are sorry that things have become so difficult for you sometimes it might help to have friends or other family members as a means of support. Is there anyone that you feel comfortable talk too?
Running away is a big decision one that you seem to have spent some time thinking about.
At 18 in most states you are considered an adult and free to move out of your parents or guardian's home legally.

It's good that you are trying to come up with a plan for the future it's important to think about surviving once you have left home. You mentioned that you might possibly be joined by a friend.
Are the two of you planning to continue your education or look for work once you have left home?
Then there is the matter of housing.
These are just a few of things to think about during your planning stage.

If you would like to discuss your situation and maybe go over some options you are welcome to call NRS.
Just call 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) to speak with someone on our 24hr crisis line.
NRS has live chat available from 4:30 pm until 11:30pm 7 days a week at www.1800Runaway.org
How does that sound?

Thank you again for contacting NRS.
Take care

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NRSOnlineServicesSurvey

[Unregistered]

mrs.

Hello I am a parent who's daughter just graduated 2weeks ago and just turned 18. My daughter has just ran away from home with her 20 year old boyfriend 6 days ago. I am wondering as a parent if I can do anything to bring her back home? She has no job has been under my care since birth. I need advice and help.
Thank you a worried mom.

[ccsmod14]

Re: mrs.

Hi there,

Thank you so much for reaching out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are going through a lot right now with your daughter having run away with her boyfriend. We’re glad that you contacted us, we’re here to help as much as we can.

It sounds like you care a lot about your daughter. It is understandable that you would be worried about your daughter, it sounds like you have taken really good care of her all of her life. We’re not legal experts here, but generally speaking, in most states, the legal age of an adult is 18. This means that when an individual turns 18, they are able to decide where they are going to live legally. Not all 18 year olds are stable enough to leave home, so it becomes more complicated. It sounds like your daughter has not worked before, does she have plans to do so now do you know?

Do you know if your daughter and her boyfriend are staying in a safe place? If you were to pass our number along to her if you have any way of contacting her, we would not tell her what to do but rather make sure that she is safe in whatever she decides. If her and her boyfriend were in need of a safe place to go, we could potentially find a shelter for the two of them. It has got to be hard having her away from home, but it can be helpful reaching out and letting her know that she is always welcome at home. In some cases, half the battle is knowing whether or not home is still an option.

Please do call or chat with us if you would like to talk further. We’re here to support you as much as we can.

Best of luck,
NRS

[Independent]

18 yr old runaway in Florida

Hi I'm 18 living in Florida currently I live with my parents and I love them very much but it's time for me to leave the nest. I'd like to live in new York with my boyfriend and his mom. They have already invited me to live with them. And I feel that it will be a safe new environment where I'm actually treated like an adult and my gain some independence. Because currently my parents don't allow me to even cross the street without them being their its extremely ridiculous I'm 18 and yet I'm treated like I'm 10. I love my parents but I'd like to gain independence go to the college of my choice, be able to date and live in the city that I love. I have tried to talk to my parents constantly about what I want but I always get shut down and then they become more strict. I cannot continue to live here I currently have a paid internship and can afford to leave but my parents care so much that Iknow that they will find any way they can to bring me back. So I was wondering if in Florida, am I at the age of 18 considered a runaway? Is there any possibility of criminal action being taken towards my bf or his mother?

[ccsmod6]

RE: 18 yr old runaway in Florida

Hello there,

Thank you for reaching out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like the strictness of your parents has taken a toll on you and you feel you are ready for independence. From what you shared, it sounds like you are wondering if you would be considered a runaway at the age of 18 in the state of Florida and if criminal action could be taken against your boyfriend or his mother. We would like to help as best as we are able to. We are not legal experts, but we can speak in general terms. Generally at the age of 18 (in most states) an individual becomes their own legal guardian which means they are able to make decisions for themselves such as where they want to reside. Something that your parents may choose is to file a missing person report, but generally at the age of 18, you are no longer considered a runaway since you would be considered an adult. It is often best to consult with your local non-emergency police department to learn more about the laws in your area and confirm the age of majority.

It seems you have income and a place to stay for a while. However, something that may help you decide on what you want to do is to think about some of these questions below:

Do I have a stable, safe place to stay?
What would I do for money? Shelter? Food? Transportation?
Who can I depend on if I leave home?
Do I have a safe, solid plan?
What is my plan b in case my first plan doesn’t work?
Who is able to provide support to me through my plan b?
What have I done to make things better at home?
What can I do to make things better at home?
Who have I reached out to make things better at home?

It’s great that you are reaching out for help before you make a big decision such as moving away to New York with your boyfriend. If you would like to talk more about what you are going through and explore some of these questions or concerns you may have, please consider reaching out to our 24 hour crisis line at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chatting with us via our website www.1800runaway.org.

We hope this helps and look forward to hearing from you.

Be safe and take care,

NRS

[lovergirl27]

24 hour care group home

I'm 22 years old and I wanna get outta here. I have a guardian she's not good at bring on time when she picks MW up... She doesn't call me when I ask. She will call me a day or two later. Live with 4 girls. And I have a dog and she's been pooping in the ladies rooms. Only 5ones that are being a bully to me. I was pulled outta my adoptive home when I was 21. I was molested. And here in this group home I feel like I'm being punished. Cuz I have to show them that I can be out on my own. Yeah I had a crazy life. But no one is in a group because of that. I have a boyfriend and I didnt tell the staffs about him. They know about him but they don't know I'm dating him. He's 25 years old. He's really nice. But I wanna be with him. And he might be moving soon, and he wants me to go along and I really want too. But I wanna be sure that if I just leave I won't get in trouble. Even when I have a guardian. My boyfriend has a sister that works in the Dane county and my sister also works in the Dane county. But she lives far away. My boyfriend thinks if his sister becomes my temporary guardian I could get out and be free. Cuz here I feel like I'm not free. I can't see my friends unless I have people sitting there with me. I feel like I'm in another home that makes me trapped. I cant be home alone. I only can be home alone for an hour every other Tuesday and the other Tuesdays I go to the YMCA from 1-3:13pm I live Madison WI on the west side and I just wanna be free. I wanna be happy and be with my boyfriend without having to have people sit there with us....

[ccsmod5]

re: 24 hour care group home

Hey there,

Thank you for being able to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline, its sounds like you have definitely been going through a pretty tough time. We’re sorry about the abuse you have been through, no one ever deserves to be treated in that manner.

If you are ever looking for people to talk to, there are options. There are two hotlines that you can potentially talk to. First, is the RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network) hotline, they are a 24/7 hotline that would be able to talk to you about the abuse you experienced if that is something that you are looking for. The next hotline is a crisis hotline for people in Dane County, they can be reached at 608-280-2600.

Unfortunately, we are not legal experts here, which means that we would not be able to speak legally about your situation. If you would want to know more about what could happen legally, we would highly encourage you to reach out to a legal aid that would be able to provide you with more information regarding your situation. It seems like you might have some sort of extended guardianship. We have provided you with a legal aid that you would be able to reach out to in your area: Community Justice, Inc. 608-442-3005.

We hope that we were able to give you some general information about what we do and how we would be able to help you. We are always here to support you and to help you in the best way that we can. Our lines are open 24/7 and can be reached at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We also have a live chat program that can be accessed every day from 4:30 PM until 11:30 PM CST. We wish you the best of luck and hope to get your call or chat soon.

Stay strong,

NRS

[Issa]

18 and wanna leave home

Well from 6 months on words IV been with this guy that does make me the happiest girl ever and I love him so much and my parents hate him so much and his done nothing wrong ... I'm home schooled so I left school due due to being bullied but I'm in rolled into amoebas school witch only supports me through home schooling and I wanna run away with my BF and I'm 18 now so I wanna know can I get up and leave and can fhe police of anyone stop me from leaving cause I don't feel safe Around this house of living in it and I don't feel safe with my parents so please tell me am I allowed to take off and run away and not go back home

[ccsmod0]

re: 18 and wanna leave home

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out this morning and posting your story here. It sounds like you’re going through a lot at home right now and that you’ve found someone who makes you really happy. We’re glad to hear that! It’s not easy to decide to leave home, so it’s smart of you to reach out and get some guidance.

We aren’t legal experts here, but because you are 18, you have the right to live wherever you want to live. As soon as you turned 18, you gained legal rights that you didn’t have before. You are now legally responsible for yourself – and one of the perks of that is that you get to decide where you live. If you leave home now, your parents would not be able to force you back home and the police would not bring you back home.

If you left without telling anyone, your parents might file a missing persons report with the police – basically a report that says you are missing and no one knows where you are. If that happens, all you have to do is call the police department and tell them that you aren’t missing. But again, you wouldn’t be brought back home and your boyfriend would not be in trouble.

One thing to note: If you do decide to leave home, it can be important to bring with you any identifying documents - your birth certificate, social security card, drivers license, etc. They will be important if you want to apply for a job or rent an apartment.

We hope that this is a helpful start for you. If you’d like to talk more about any of this or want support if you leave, please call or chat with us. We’re here to support you in whatever you decide to do. You can call us 24 hours a day at 1800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat with us through our website (www.1800runaway.org) from 4.30pm-11.30pm central time.
We look forward to your call or chat.

Best of luck to you,

NRS

[Unregistered]

18 year old and lost

Hi I like to share my story in this online pitty party .
Eversince I was little I was raised to never ask for help if you had nothing to return the favor. So I never do ,but I guess this since this site insists on sharing uncomfortable personal problems I will ,please help me.
I tend to smile at my difficulty ,but I'm trapped in my home.I live with my parents and brother and sister and grandma ,however my grand mother is bed ridden and my parents always leave me at home to tend to my grandma,and I have no problem doing so.but when I ask to go to malls movies and friends houses like normal teens I Was always and even to this day shot down . I have never been to the mall with my friends
When my friends have parties, and they invited me I would always say no cause if I even asked my parents they would slap me !
I never been to any of my high school football games cause my parents won't let me go with my friends or with them .in middle school friends stopped inviting me ,and didn't socialize with me as much because they actually socialize outside of school. I am constantly being told off ,and talked down ,like "nobody will take a ugly girl like you" ,"you look like a tin woman ","your so stupid that's why you dropped out of IB ","your so fat ,that's why nobody likes you"it's been a daily mental struggle to believe in myself .I take care of my grandma 80% of the time,but my mother constantly tells me "you do ********"so I told her she can take care of her mother by herself .My sister works and my brother goes to college so they are barely home .My parents are hypocrites they make me read proverbs everytime I tell them what they are doing to me is wrong ,most of the time the beat me with a stick like I'm a animal .by reading the scriptures my parents always force me to deal guilty for my side but they commit sins all the time ,already 3 times a month my parents goes on a 2 hour drive from Texas to Oklahoma to play in the winter casino leaving me at home to take care of my grandma . They constantly complain about paying the bills but stupidly waste it on casinos !What bothers me the most is that I told my mom that if she's thinks I don't do anything I won't ,but that woman left the house to casino without telling me and I get out of my room to find my grandma laying in her wet diaper and hungry !!!!!! At this point I can't love my parents ,we're Mormon but I can't stand it they want me to serve my mission but they are literally doing nothing to show that they want me to ,I don't want to serve my mission and end up like my parents ..I want to leave but I don't know anyone ...I don't have anyone ...I fear being homeless ...I don't know what to do I'm already 18 I'm still in hs ,can some one please give me advice on what's the right thing to do ?