I'm 14 and I need to get out of my house.

[ccsmod16]

Hi
Thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline – we are here to help and to listen.
We’re sorry to hear that your parents have made threats to hurt you, aren’t letting you focus on school, and threatening to take away your phone. You do not deserve to be treated that way, and you have a right to file a child abuse report. You can do so at ChildHelp 1-800-422-4453.
Normally investigations are taken when there is strong evidence of physical abuse or neglect, however this may also depend on who takes the call. Any hotline worker at ChildHelp should be able to take your report and let you know what actions they can take. One of our own hotline workers can also help you file an abuse report.
We would like to leave you with a few hotline referrals. The Trevor Project (1-866-488-7386), the LGBT National Hotline (888-843-4564), and TransLifeline (877-565-8860) are 24/7 hotline numbers that you can access to speak to someone if you are in crisis or if you wanted to speak with someone. The Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hotline is also 24/7 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
You can also reach us via our 24/7 hotline and chatline to discuss these options further. Navigating your sexuality and a changing home life can be confusing, but you are not alone in this process.
Best of luck,
NRS

Hi, I am 14 and I have been struggling with some things at home. My parents found out that I’ve been skipping online classes and the my grades dropped from straight A,s to straight F’s. The only reason why I did it is because I am home alone 24/7 and then around 3:31 my little brothers come home and I need to babysit. I am home alone from 11:00am- 8pm. I just wanted attention from my parents but know I feel like I am just a burden to them. I have had thoughts of doing drugs from the last 6 months now and yesterday was the first day I tried something. Once my parents found out that my grades dropped, the first thing my dad told me is “I want to just go home and choke you.”. And then this morning my mom woke me up saying that I need to start working on weekends at the family restaurant and when I told my mom that I was going to use the weekend to start focusing harder on school she said “ I don’t care”. My mom also threatened to take all of my clothes away and only leave me with underwear and bras and a shirt and a pair of pants. I also think I’m bi- curious, and I don’t want to tell any of my family because of all the homophobic jokes they have made over the years. I also haven’t had my own room for almost a month now because we have this friend (that I did not agree could come home ) staying at my house. In the past days has also invaded my privacy by taking my room door down and he claims that a 14 year old girl does not need “privacy”. They also threatened to take my phone away when my phone is the only thing I have close to outside communication, and my phone is also the way I turn in school work. I wish I could have an open conversation with them about how I’m feeling and why I did all of this, and the thoughts I’ve been having, but they will just end up calling me ungrateful or go on about how I don’t do enough, or that this is all just in my mind, or that they never had the opportunities in life that I have right now as a child in Gen Z. Please help me, or just threaten to send me to military school in South America because it’s “cheaper”. Please help me.

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,
Thanks for reaching out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It sounds like you are having a very hard time at home. We are here to help in any way we can.

You mentioned that your family is verbally and sometimes physically abusive. No child deserves to be abused, you should not have to experience that. Childhelp is the National Child Abuse Hotline. If you are interested in filing an abuse report or want to hear more about what that might look like, their website is www.childhelp.org and their hotline number is 1-800-422-4453. If you ever are in immediate danger, please call 911.

You also said that you have become mentally suicidal. Emotional abuse can take a big toll on your mental health. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a great mental health resource. Their website is www.nami.org, and they have a HelpLine as well at 1-800-950-6264. This HelpLine is only available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, so if you need 24/7 help, they have a Crisis Text Line. To use this text NAMI to 741-741. If you are contemplating suicide, the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.

You mentioned that you have thought about staying with your best friend for a few days. That is great that there is somebody that you trust and would want to stay with if you left home. If you are considering leaving home but do not have a plan to do so, feel free to call into our Safeline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). We are happy to talk through what you are thinking and offer any information and resources that could be of help to you.

If you would like to talk through anything further, please give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or use our chat at www.1800runaway.org. We are a 24/7, completely confidential resource. Here to listen, here to help.

Best of luck,
NRS

hi im 14 and i need to get out of my abusive household but ive always been scared of leaving because ive never really been that independent and ive always been scared and paranoid if they catch me or someone kidnaps me. my family is verbally abusive and sometimes physically too. my mom and dad always shame me and always say stuff to me that hurt me so much. they are really bipolar and if i dont be the perfect child they want me to be then they say a bunch of unnecessary things that hurt me so much. they call me lazy and that they would prefer that i get kidnapped or robbed and that they'd return me the next day because of how selfish and ugly and useless i am. i always cry myself to sleep and whenever i cry in front of them they always either laugh or say oh look shes crying again. my life is so unfair. i dont know what to do at this point. ive become mentally suicidal but never actually had or have the courage to physically hurt myself. i have a phone but they will always take it away or disconnect it so i wont have any form of communication with anybody.so i bascially have nothing to do except cry or do some crafts. ive also had bad grades now because of online school and i dont really seem to have a motivation at this point so i dont really feel like doing anything because every day just seems the same and i try to do stuff around the house but my brothers never help me and basically almost do whatever they want. my parents also body shame me and say that im getting fatter and i need to exercise because i starting to look like a whale but whenever i start to workout they always say that what im doing is not important right now so i go do stuff around the house to help. ive tried not eating but my mom always says to eat or else ill become sick and theyll have to pay for hospital bills and that they dont want to waste usless money on me. i really dont know what to do. ive been thinking of leaving but have never had the courage to. ive been thinking of living with my best friend but i think theyll just have me for a couple of days since they are not finically ok right now. right now my parents have me living in a room thats not even remodeled and they give my used furniture that is used or broken by other people. so if you guys have any suggestions on what i should do please let me know. thanks.

[ccsmod15]

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. It sounds like you are frustrated by your brother being treated differently from you.
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. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
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. It is good to hear that you have an outlet in nails and tik-tok, but we are happy to brainstorm together to find more options to cope, or prevent arguments.
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

Hi I am 14 turning 15 in June am I live with my older brother who is 18 my stepdad and my mom lately my stuff that has been manipulating my mom into thinking that my best friend he’s a bad role model for me but she’s the only friend I really have because any friends I really get they say that I can’t really hang around or talk to them because they’re bad examples and they’re really not so my best and I was really the person I only had to talk to last year I had an incident where I was talking to this boy and so on so on things happen that wasn’t supposed to but it’s like they keep throwing my past in my face and they don’t like it when I do it to them they say I’m being grown they say that I’m always in my phone my stepdad thinks I’m always doing something sneaky until the point where one day I just got tired of it and I threw my phone at the wall in front of my mom and she hit me meanwhile this is not the first time she hit me she also says very hurtful things like hell I am naïve and how I’m a flunky and how I’m never gonna get anywhere being a flunky she has 10 kids my mom had her first kid was she was I think 14 or 15 and she said that she let all of her kids grow up how they wanted to and all of them ended up in bad places but I don’t think that’s right because most of my siblings had their first child in their 20s and that’s what I was planning on doing but she accuses me of doing so much to the point where I have no friends now I don’t have a TV in my room I only have my phone and when she’s in a bad mood she thinks anger out on me and sometimes on her and my step again argument he pushes the attention onto me try to make it seem like I’m doing something sneaky so that way he won’t get in trouble for it anymore and I will and he’s very creepy he comes in my room looking through my stuff he takes things without my permission and I try to tell my mom that I feel uncomfortable with him doing it why is he in my room and she just gets mad at me and tell me to go in my room she says that I can’t have a boyfriend at my age because boys can’t do nothing for me and all they do is give you diseases and stuff and I was totally fine with it but she keeps saying it and so does my stepdad and they get mad when I try to defend myself and it’s really hurtful they cheap my brother so good my brother had bought a pair of sneakers but months before this I showed my mom and step that thoseSame exact shoes and they said that those are ugly but when he got them they were so nice I didn’t get that I’m always with her 24 seven I’m a good kid I don’t do anything bad to anybody I’m very quiet and all I do is basically look up how to do nails in go on TickTock and look on Facebook and Snapchat what can I do please help me

[ccsmod15]

Hi,
Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like things at home have been really hard. We hope to help in the best way we know how.
It sounds like when your Dad is angry, you grow fearful. You should not have to live in fear. It is important you know that you can always reach out to Child Help to talk through the option of reporting any kind of abuse that may be going on at home. Their number is 1-800-422-4453. If you are in immediate danger, we encourage you to reach out to the police at any time.
Otherwise, you may consider talking to your Mom and brother about ways to approach your Dad about his drinking. One resource that might be helpful to you is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-877-726-4727. This may be a good starting point for dealing with any addiction that may be present in the home, as this national database of substance abuse counseling by area can attend to any intervention needs your Dad might have.
We hope you find this helpful. You also mention not wanting to live at home anymore. If you ever reach out to us we can help you find a shelter or other temporary housing in your area. Our number is 1800-RUN-AWAY.

Sincerely,
NRS

Im 14 and im terrified of my dad he his drinks a lot his only nice to me when his drunk but when he gets angry he terrifies me he cusses he shouts he says mean things i just dont want to live in the same house as him ive got a mum and brother my brother is 16 but he still lives with us and so does my mum

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are dealing with a lot of frustrating and distressing things at home. We can tell you are a very strong person, and you are not alone.

You mentioned that you have a difficult relationship with your stepmother, and that she refuses to listen when you talk to her about how you feel. One service that we offer here at the NRS is a Conference Call, where we could have both you and your stepmother on the phone with one of us crisis counselors. This would allow the conversation to be mediated so you could both express your feelings in a safe and accepting environment. If you would ever like to use this service, just give us a call.

It sounds like you have a grandmother and an older sister that truly care about you and want you to be happy. While you may not be physically living with them right now, it may be helpful to reach out to them and talk to them, even more than usual right now if things are hard. It’s important to reach out to support systems as much as we need to when we are struggling.

We want the best for you as well and would be happy to talk further with you about the details of your situation and possibly provide more specific resources. If you would like to talk to us and get more help, call us anytime at 1(800) 786-2929, or chat live with us online at www.1800runaway.org.

Best of luck to you, and stay safe!
NRS

im 14 and want out of my house my father recently whent to jail for drinking and driving and will be there for 5 years due to past events my step mom is parenting me but im the only chiled in the house that is not hers i constantly am grounded and called disrespectful when all i do is try to make her happy i want to talk to her about it but every time i try she just yells at me and i cant take it my grandma wants me to stay with her but my step mom will not let me and my sister that lives on her own also wants me to stay with her witch she wont let me do what do i do or how do i get out

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out to NRS. It sounds like you're feeling scared and overwhelmed, which is understandable given everything you’ve been dealing with. It shows a lot of strength that you are still reaching out for help and exploring your options even in such a stressful environment.

First of all, if you ever feel like you’re in danger of acting on thoughts of self-harming, please call 911, a counselor or trusted adult. You can also text "NAMI" to 741741 to be connected to the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s crisis text line. They can provide support as well as connect you to resources in your area, including resources to help support you with your sobriety. The most important priority is your safety, and you do not need to struggle with this alone. As a rape survivor, you deserve care and support to help you heal. Another resource is the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673), which is a confidential hotline that can provide support and help you find mental health resources in your area.

The behavior you're describing from your parents sounds like emotional abuse, and it's never okay. No one deserves to be put down like that. Please know that you have the right to report this at any time by telling a teacher at school, calling the police, or contacting your state’s abuse reporting hotline. Child Help (1-800-422-4453) is a confidential hotline that can answer any questions you may have about the reporting process and take a report over the phone if you choose to. At NRS, we are here for you 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929 if you want to talk through your options and next steps.

Stay safe,
NRS

I’m 14 years old and I don’t want to live in my household anymore, I’m constantly getting talked down on and constantly being called a failure , and I haven’t talked to my mom in a month because we’re arguing . I’m always in the middle of my parents arguing and they’re constantly leaving and yelling at me , and I used to cut and I’m getting the urge to cut again I was almost a year sober and I broke that . She told me that I’m not perfect like she wants , she told me how I’m ungrateful and they just wont ever understand how I’m feeling, I got raped and they just talk down on me and I can’t do this anymore, I’m scared and I just need someone or something or somewhere to go, I’m scared .

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

We know that stressors can be overwhelming at times and it sounds like you have turned to self-injury as a way to cope. It’s totally understandable that you would want to do something to give you a feeling of power and control when you may feel hopeless. To Write Love on Her Arms is an organization dedicated to supporting people who use this coping mechanism on their road to self-realization and recovery. You can check them out by going to https://twloha.com/. If you’d like some additional support, an organization that may be helpful is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). You can contact them by calling 1-800-950-NAMI or you can text them by sending NAMI to 741741.

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

We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

I don’t want to live at home anymore, I can’t do this anymore and it’s hard, I used to cut and I’m getting the feeling of doing it again

[ccsmod15]

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. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. It seems like you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of noise that makes it hard to focus and relax in the home. It is understandable to be upset when everyone around you is also upset or angry. You mentioned feeling like you may have mental health challenges as well. We recommend https://nami.org/Home as a good resource to learn more about mental health.
We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS