I am 14 and want to runaway to an orphanage

[Guest]

Hi I am a 15 year old who wants to leave home already. My mom doesen't care about me anymore she told me to not call her mother she said I could leave the house whenever I want to or to go live with my boyfriend but to forget she exsist so I want to leave as soon as possible please help I live in colorado. Where can I go?

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Hi i am a 15 year old who wants to leave home already.

Hello,
Thank you for writing to us here at the National Runaway Safeline.

We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. If you need emergency shelter NRS has a national Data base that allows us to assist you with locating shelter services in your area.
You also have the option of speaking with a counselor or social worker at school about your situation. They may be able to give you information for family crisis services.
This could also mean that they would have to file a child abuse report with child protective services being that they are mandated reporters. This usually happens if there is concern for abuse. NRS is here to listen and here to help.
You do not deserve to feel this kind of behavior from your mother. It is no fault of yours that this is happening.

If you would like to talk more about your situation and explore or go over the things we mentioned, please call or chat.
We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

You did well by reaching out today. Good for you.
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 9-1-1 or seek emergency assistance immediately.

Take care,
NRS

We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: Your Opinion Matters to Us

[Guest]

I am 14 and I want to kill myself or runaway because of my life at home I have parents who make just annoy me and say stuff like I’m a disgrace and ******** like that and that they took my PS4 away from because they think I was addicted to it plus when I did have my PS4 I was only allowed one hour a day and the way I could get more hours is more homework then in year 8 I did all my homework and I was not allowed to play longer I have tried everything to my parents let me player longer like all my friends but they don’t they think they know my best friends but they don’t and it’s ********ing annoying

[ccsmod7]

Thank you so much for contacting the National Runaway Safeline. We are so sorry you have to deal with that kind of frustration at home. Your safety and well-being is important. If you feel you are in danger of harming yourself, we urge you to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You could also call us at our toll free number. We are open 24/7 365 days a year and are confidential. If you ever need to vent or discuss options or explore resources, please do not hesitate to call any time.
The first option we could discuss is a conference call between you, us, and your parents. We could act as referee to make sure everyone feels they are being respected, heard and fully understood in the conversation. Another good option would be to explore family counseling, where you and your parents would visit a therapist together to discuss these dynamics in person and hopefully find a more respectful resolution. Another good option may be to talk to a therapist yourself. This would give you a confidant and a professional ear to help you figure out better strategies for dealing with an unfair home life. If you are interested in any of the above options, please give us a call and we can help you find a therapist or family counselor in your area. If money is a concern, we also have many sliding scale therapists available that could work for a more cost effective price.

Thank you again for reaching out, and we encourage you to so any time you are in need.

[Guest]

Hi I’m 13 and I really don’t know if my family still cares for me or not, I’m like in that stage where I feel completely alone and like my family and I aren’t really caring for each other, you dig? I also don’t live in the best conditions that might also be why, but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve considered running away, but where would I go? I also have a sibling that gets more attention and love than I do (or at least I’m pretty sure my sibling does) which also infuriates me. Any suggestion helps

[ccsmod3]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you’re going through a really tough time right now with your parents. It’s understandable why you would feel frustrated and angry.
If you are considering running away from home, there are resources that can provide you with more information. First, please feel free to call our hotline at any time: 1-800-RUNAWAY. We are available 24/7 and can discuss anything you’re going through.
You can also reach out to National Safe Place: www.nationalsafeplace.org or (88 290-7233. This hotline provides assistance for anyone under 18 who needs immediate help or safety.
Again, we’re glad you reached out to us—it takes a lot to ask for help. If you would like to talk further about your situation, please don’t hesitate to call or chat with us. We’re here to listen and help.

-NRS

[Guest]

Hello I’m 13 I really want to leave home or even hurt myself but I know that many people will be sad if I do that. The reason is many of my good friend found new friends that they boast about and say ohh hey my new friend is really good at running she’s even better than you. Which is really upsetting. At home our parents hit me and my sibling at least once every 2 weeks, I have some bruises and I used to have better stamina but not that much anymore. They also mentally abuse me like “what the heck u are such an ungrateful child when I ask for something 2 dollars but when my siblings ask to get something 20 dollars, she’s like ohh ok let’s buy that. Since I am the oldest they always blame something on me. These are really stressful but I know they love me and just want the best.

[ccsmod4]

Reply: Hello I’m 13 I really want to leave home

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS).

We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. You might consider speaking with a counselor or social worker at school about your situation. They can also file child abuse reports if this is something you would like to do. By law they are required to report any allegations of child abuse. We understand this might be a tough decision to for. NRS wants you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,
NRS


We hope this response was helpful! We’d love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis email/forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to youth and families. Please click the link to fill out our survey: Your Opinion Matters to Us

[Guest]

hi i am 9 my parents absolutely hate everything that i do i want to run away but where do in go what do i bring they scream and love everyone except for me they scream for no reason when it wasn't even my fault

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for contacting The National Runaway Safeline we are here to help and hereto listen. It sounds like you are going through a really difficult time right now. Having your parents scream all the time can be frustrating and scary all at the same time. One option you could consider is reaching out to your school counselor and letting them know what is going on, sometimes talking to a professional can help us feel better. You also mentioned that you believe they hate you, one option you may want to consider is having a conversation with your parents about how you feel. At NRS we offer conference calling where if you call out to us we can help you talk with your parents. Conference calling allows you to be heard and we are there to provide support and to mediate the conversation. If at any moment you ever feel in danger at home you can always call 911 ASAP.
You also mentioned wanting to runaway, we are not legal experts but we can do our best to give you some knowledge. If you were to leave home without permission, because you are 9 years old your parents have the right to file a runaway report. If the police found you they would most likely bring you home. Running away can be dangerous at any age but especially for a youth who is 9 years old. Your safety is our top concern so we would want you to be safe. You may want to consider what you would do if you found yourself in a dangerous situation. What would you do for food and money and where would you go.
Running away is not your only option if you call us we would be happy to explore other options with you. If you find running away is your only decision we are not here to tell you advice but we are here to provide support. If you need somewhere safe to stay we can try and help you find safe places you can stay such as shelters.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore your options more please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and provide support. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

I always want to runaway no matter what but I’m scared and I’m only 11 help me

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, we know it takes a lot of courage to reach out for help. It’s important to consider all the possibilities that can occur if you leave home. You will need to plan out how you will cover basic necessities like travel, food, clothing, etc. If you have a place to go in mind, it’s good to see what the expectations of the living arrangement will be like; rules, the amount of time you’re allowed to stay, if you’re expected to contribute financially, etc. This can all influence your decision to leave.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 14 and live in buckeye my family hates me and I'm constantly getting in trluble for stuff that isnt even my fault and im sick of it but I cant find any where to go or any safe place to go to and was wibdering if anyone has any tips

[ccsmod6]

Hi! Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you're going through a lot of unfair stuff with your family right now, and it's good that you're reaching out for support.

It must be really hard to feel like your family hates you and blames you for things that aren't your fault. It must feel unfair and stressful to be living in an environment like that. It makes a lot of sense that you're sick of it, and are looking for places to go that feel safe. If you ever would like to talk to someone in more detail about what you're going through, please know that you can contact the NRS any time at 1-800-RUNAWAY. We are a 24/7, confidential hotline and we are here to help.

No one deserves to be made to feel unloved by their family, and you don't need to go through this alone. Think about what your family does that makes you feel hated. Think about whether there is anything you can say to them that might help them see how they are hurting you. You can try to imagine how having a conversation with them about your feelings might go. You could also call the NRS and ask one of our liners to help you plan out what to say. Writing down your feelings in a journal could help. It could also help to picture what would need to change at home for you to be able to feel better.

It sounds like the way your family punishes you for stuff that isn't even your fault is one particularly challenge right now. That must be hard. You might try to imagine what would need to change at home for you to feel more comfortable there. Talking to your family about how you're feeling and what you would like to change might help, if you feel like they will listen to you. And if you think it could be helpful to talk to your family with the help of an independent, supportive third-party, the NRS offers a service when you call that would allow you to conference call with your family. It can help with having tough conversations, to make sure everyone feels like their voice is being heard.

You mention looking for somewhere safe to go. It must be hard to feel like you have nowhere to go or no options, but you deserve to feel safe where you live. It might help to think about the places where you do feel safe, such as a friend's house or school. It might help to talk to a friend, teacher or school counselor about how you're feeling and what would help you feel less trapped. You can also call the NRS and talk through options for places to go, such as shelters, any time. The NRS liners are able to look up shelters in your area and help you find out what resources are available to you.

It sounds like you're doing the best that you can to take care of yourself, and that's a good thing! Please feel free to reach back out any time, we are available at 1-800-RUNAWAY and we are happy to listen. Good luck!

[Guest]

Hi I'm 16 years old and my parents don't want me anymore and my family dont feel like an family I'm in AZ can I call you to leave please... I dont wanna be here anymore

[ccsmod6]

Thanks for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline, we're here to listen and to help. It sounds like you are dealing with a lot at home right now, and that your situation has gotten to a place where you don't feel like living at home is an option anymore. You took a great first step reaching out for help. Please call us! We would love to chat with you more in depth about what's going on at home and see if we can figure out some options to help you feel safe. Feel free to reach out to us via phone- 1800-RUNAWAY, or via online chat- www.1800runaway.org, at any time. We are here 24/7

[Guest]

Hi, I am a 12 year old girl
My parents are struggling financially right now, and I want to live with another family member to let my mom and dad to get more money. My parents won't let me live with said family member because she is suicidal, but she was there for me all my childhood. My dad left me with my mom and my sister until I was 9 years old. I want to stay close to my friends where because i have a hard time making them. When I tell my dad i want to live somewhere else, he yells and I cry. I am very emotional and don't want to stay where I am.

[ccsmod7]

Thanks so much for reaching out to NRS. It sounds like things have been stressful at home for some time, and it’s understandable that you’d want to get away from the tension.

Many families experience financial hardships, and it’s normal to be worried about your parents and what might happen. But most parents do not think of their children as financial burdens, and would not trade their kids for any amount of money. Even if sometimes it is hard for your parents to afford to take care of you, it’s possible that they love you and would feel much worse if you were gone. Something else to keep in mind is that if you were to run away and you were caught, your parents could potentially be charged with neglect, which wouldn’t be helpful to them. It might be helpful to think about other ways you might be able to help other than leaving – things like babysitting or walking dogs for extra money, or doing the best you can in school so you can earn college scholarships someday
.
It sounds like maybe you want a break from being at home, and your parents won’t give you permission to stay with your family member because they are concerned about your safety. It might be helpful to think about other ways to get out of the house. Maybe your parents would give you permission to stay with a friend or a different family member for the weekend. Or maybe you could join a club or sports team at school.

Sometimes it can be really helpful just to get things off your chest. It might be a good idea to find someone like a school counselor who you can talk to about what you’re feeling. We at NRS (1-800-786-2929) can also help you find resources like counselors or therapists in your area. Journaling about how you’re feeling can also provide a lot of relief sometimes.

It is brave that you are asking for help and looking into all your options. We are here for you 24/7 if you’d like to talk further.

[Guest]

I am 14 years old. I am transgender and I came out when I was 11. My parents say that they love me, but they do not accept me for who I am. They treat me like a different person. It's gotten to the point where I have to hide myself and isolate myself from them just so I can be myself. They yell at me for being emotionally distant and when I try to explain why and what I'm feeling, they don't listen. I feel safer and a lot happier when I'm not at home. I want to runaway and I wish I had a different family. If my extended family lived in my state I would try to reach out to them, but they don't live here. My parents are never violent towards me, yet I still hate being around them. They always say that they don't want to accept me because they want me to be safe, yet the thoughts I have and the fact that I am typing this at all, is definitely not safe.
I just want to get out of here.

[ccsmod9]

Thanks for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. You made a great first step to finding the help that you may need. It sounds like you are going through a lot and the people around you are not being supportive. You deserve to be treated with respect, to experience acceptance and to feel safe.

We want you to know that you are strong for having gone through so much already. It is perfectly okay to deviate from what others or the common population believe to be “normal”. You’re bravery and resilience is so admirable. You are so strong for having gone through so much without having the acceptance that you do deserve for just being you. Remember that you are not alone. If you ever want to talk more about what you are experiencing or get additional support we are here 24/7 at 1800-RUNAWAY or our live chat service. The GLBT National Hotline at 1888-843-4564 is another option to gain great support from those that are familiar with the issues and experiences of those that are also a part of the LGBTQ community. You can access their website link bellow to utilize all the other possibly useful resources they have to offer: http://www.glbthotline.org/

You mentioned that you were considering the options that may be best for you. By all means, if you do fear for your safety either now or in the future, do not hesitate to take the necessary steps to regain your safety. This may mean calling the authorities or possibly reporting the things you may be experiencing. Other options to think about may be other family members, friends, or a trusted adults that would be able to provide you with support or a safe place to stay. It is great that you thinking ahead. Should you feel like leaving home is best, it may be a good idea to think about how you will provide necessities for yourself such as food, clothing, showers, healthcare and other basic needs. You may want to also consider how your parent’s will react to you leaving without permission. We are not legal experts here, but typically as a minor (under the age of 1 you need permission from your parents to leave home. It is not illegal to runaway, but it would mean that your parents could file a runaway report with the police. This is usually done in an effort to try to return you home as the police are required to do so.

If you can give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or reach out through Live Chat we can try to find some youth shelters that may be near your city and state by utilizing our database of resources. We can also try to call out to shelters with you or on your behalf to advocate for you.

Stay Strong,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 13 and my dad just said he'd be overjoyed if I wasn't his daughter, and my mum said she wanted to kill herself being my mother. I really want to get out of this life somehow. What should I do

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension - it's not OK for your parents to say such cruel and hurtful things to you. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do. If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I'm 15 and my mother don't want me near her, she hits me , say things about me being not worth to her , and she threatened me by saying that When I'll turn 16 she will kick me out of her house. Please helhelp me

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. It may also be a good place to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Please I want to get away from this dump I don’t know where to go

[ccsmod11]

Hi, and thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). You mentioned wanting to get away. While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home.

If you'd like to talk in more detail about your situation and where you may be able to go, or have any questions please call 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat with us (www.1800RUNAWAY.org) as we can best help by phone or chat. Best, NRS