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

[Guest]

I really need to get out this house

[ccsmod0]

Hi there,

You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home before turning 18. The easiest way to leave home is with your parents' permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Be safe,

NRS

Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

So my parents grew up bad and they never had someone to hide them threw life and growing up for them they never learned how to become somewhat caring parents my parents never hurt me but mental abuse me with words and have to here them fight which sucks for me bc I can't learn how to be a good parent bc of them I tell them I can't do this with u guys I had to listen to this since I was born almost they love each other and don't want to leave each other but the things they say is depressing I don't want to hurt my self bc of it I just want to know how do I leave my parents at the age of 12 I have a sister too who also has to go threw it and I don't know what to do I do want to live them but not foster care where I can't see my family I want to see my family just not them bc they might say promise we won't fight or call names but it happens again I told family members that I want to live with them but they don't understand what pain I go threw I go to church sometimes with my other family and they pray for me but I don't know what to do what do u think

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

We are sorry to hear you are going through such a rough time at home. It's definitely difficult to hear your parents argue. And, of course, it's totally not right that they are mentally abusing you. It makes sense that you would want the situation to change.

Of course, at 12 you are still under your parents guardianship. One possibility is that you can ask them for permission to live somewhere else that is safe and nourishing for you -- perhaps with extended family. Of course, you could also file an abuse report on the abuse you are going through. That would lead to an investigation that may eventually lead to you being separated from your parents. But whether or not you file is totally up to you. We never tell anyone what to do.

We'd like to help further but need a bit more information from you to see how we can assist you. The best way for us to do that is if you call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us via the portal at www.1800runaway.org. We can work with you to figure out what you'd like to do.

Please stay safe and take care!
NRS

[Guest]

Im 14 and dont want to stay with my mother anymore what can i do to leave ?

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are going through some stuff and we want to support you. Whether or not you feel like you need to run away is up to you and whether or not you feel safe where you are. We would be happy to help you in whatever way we can. We can provide referrals to mental health resources, shelters, legal advocacy, among other things. We can also just talk you through whatever your situation is and help you figure out what your options are. We aim to empower youths and we prioritize their safety and their well-being. If you are interested in anything that we have to offer or talking about what options you have, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 14 years old my parents are always fighting my dad has been on drugs for the longest time but now says he’s not anymore but it’s obvious he is my mom is always moving us back and fourth from grandmas house back to my dads house my mom is always yelling at me for nothing my brother is a year younger then me and has autism he is always hitting me throwing things at me and i get in trouble for saying something or crying I have a cousin that I usually stay with because my mom moved back to my dads house and I refused to go so i stayed with my cousin but my mom is trying to make me move back and I don’t want to because I don’t like it I don’t like the environment I get treated horribly and my cousin is 23 I think she’s married and has 2 kids her and her husband told me if I found a way to stay with them I could with no problem but my parents will say no so I need help where I can stay with her without having to get permission from my parents what do I do

[ccsmod16]

Hi, thank you for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did. You’ve been brave and are very smart for finding us and asking for help with a really hard situation.

It sounds like your dad has been on drugs and you don’t believe him now that he says that he is not, and that has been something scary and unpredictable in your life. Along with moving back and forth and your mom yelling at you and your brother’s behavior towards you, It is understandable that you want to be with your safe and stable cousins. Being treated this way is not fair and we are sorry that you are going through this.

One thing to ask your cousin is if she can work with your mom and negotiate this situation. If your cousin can offer a compromise with your mom, maybe you stay with them during the week and with mom on weekends, or the other way around, that might be a way to help your mom feel like she is still in control of the situation and to give you some relief from the stress you are under. Maybe asking you grandmother to help talk to your mom might help too. Thinking about the timing of this conversation between your cousin and your mom is important. If she’s in a moment where she’s really stressed out, waiting for a more peaceful moment will help things go more smoothly.

We also offer a conference call service where you call us we talk with you about your situation, and then we would call your mom and we act as your ally and advocate to help to work on a compromise in this situation.

In the end, it is your mom or dad who have to give their permission for you to stay with your cousin, so talking with the adults around you to help you talk with her is a good strategy.

You can reach us by phone just to talk this over or to talk more about the Conference Call at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY) or through our live chat service via www.1800runaway.org

We hope to hear from you soon.

NRS

[Guest]

I’m 14 and I’ve always never gotten along with my parents, my dad wants nothing to do with me and I’ve never liked my mum because of what she did when I was younger. I don’t want to live with them because I don’t feel safe with either of them. I would rather live anywhere else.

[ccsmod4]

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. It sounds like you are going through some not so good times at home and you don’t feel safe. We are here to listen and find out more about your situation so we may know how we might help.

We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. 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).
You did well by reaching out to NRS. Good job.

If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to or seek emergency assistance immediately by dialing 9-1-1.


Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

i’m 13 and my parents verbally abuse me and I can’t find a way to leave. they bother me to the point where I can’t focus on work and i’m suicidal and my parents know that. I just need an escape from my parents and my family. I keep thinking of myself as a loser because I can’t keep up good grades and my parents always take things away from me. my mom takes away the things that make me happy and i’m sick of it. I see my house as a prison and i’m the prisoner. it would be cool to know what I can do at 13. my life has gone downhill because of them and i don’t have any friends or family where i live, I have no idea where to go. I feel just like a prisoner where i have no rights and freedoms.

[ccsmod9]

Hello,
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 in your life right now.
It sounds like you’re fearing that the stress from the situation is getting harder and harder to handle.
We are sorry you are going through a tough emotional time.
if you feel you are at risk of being a danger to yourself or others call 9-1-1 for immediate help.
You might also consider the National Suicide and Prevention Lifeline. 1-800-273-2929


Sometimes when things are too stressful it might help to talk with someone about it.
You did a good job by reaching out.
Often, having a space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. This may be an isolating and difficult time for you, but you are not alone in this.

NRS is here to listen and here to help.
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 call or chat soon.

Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

You are welcome to discuss your situation and talk about possible options for help.

Be safe and take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I know about the laws and everything in Texas already because I've been doing a lot of research. I know what I'm doing and I have a place to go. I have one question though, if I were to be found at my friends house after my parents file a runaway report, would the people I'm staying with automatically be in trouble or would they only face charges if my parents press charges?

[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. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do. It’s great to hear that you have a supportive place in mind. If you go to stay at someone’s house without prior permission from your parents, the adult(s) in the home could be charged with harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor. Penalties for harboring a runaway vary from state to state, police officer to officer, and how your parents view the situation.

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.

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

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

i always feel really invisible here at my house. it’s not about jealousy but, my sister always gets more than me and my mom always yells at me for things that i didn’t do or they literally have no relation to me whatsoever. she’ll even drink, pop pills, ect. and thinks it’s okay. today i was talking to my step dad and he said something like we’re all just spoiled kids nowadays and i was like if i was spoiled i’d have a lot more things and the house would be wayyyyyyyyyyy bigger. then my mom jumped in and said if you don’t like it here then ********ing move out. and i’m honestly considering it. i have to share a room w an 18 year old that’s so “innocent” and “perfect” and “she does no wrong” i can’t live like this anymore. my mom has made me attempt suicide sooo many times and i can’t deal w it anymore. i wanna move in w my uncle at least there i’m happy, my family is there, and i feel loved and appreciated unlike here.

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to NRS,
It seems like you are feeling singled out at home and that your mom isn’t giving you the support you want. It is understandable that you want to take steps to make the situation better and feel more mentally stable at home. It seems like you have felt so much stress from it you have had suicidal thoughts as well. If those continue or you feel like they get worse please call 911 or 1-800-273-8255 to reach the national suicide prevention lifeline.
You may also want to consider looking at nami.org for more information on mental health since you mentioned suicidal thoughts and may be going through so depression like symptoms. They may have some ideas for dealing with the situation and your feelings. Another option would be to find a personal therapist/counselor. If you needed help finding one that is more affordable we can help with our database of information.
You could potentially live with your uncle if you had parent permission to do so. If your mom does try to kick you out, and physically tries to do so you are able to call police as that is negligent behavior on their part and not something they should do. If you were to leave without their permission then your parents could file a runaway report and the police would force you to go home.
Hopefully this information is helpful, you deserve to live in a supportive place, if you have more questions please reach out to our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

[Guest]

My son is about to be 14 years old but I'm not his biological parent he is mother has custody they verbally and mentally abused him this is her second time in two years she's engaged and move some guy into the house if you seen where he lives at it's just unfit he's unhappy there he's angry he lashes out and it hurts me because I don't have any legal rights and I don't know what to do she's taking his phone from him so I can't contact them she told me she will let me know when I can see him and come get him my son is miserable he's going to be 14 this month I mean is there anything I can do can he just come stay with me I mean I know she may call the police I have no legal rights I mean what can I do I hate seeing him in pain like that

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out today. Sounds like you are in a very painful situation watching your deal with his custodial guardians being emotionally abusive, and being unable to intervene. Here at NRS we truly want to be a support for you and your son during this difficult time.

Unfortunately, the main thing you can do without being a custodial parent is to report any abuse and neglect to child protective services (CPS). You might reach out to the expert child advocates at Child Help if you have any questions about reporting: 1-800-422-4453.

If your son is thinking about running you might give him our information (1-800-RUNAWAY; www.1800runway.org). We can provide him with support, and try to brainstorm his options with him, and/or look for local resources including youth shelters. If he does come to yours it is possible that police could get involved. You could be at risk for being charged with harboring a runaway that is a minor charge, but it might be difficult for them to successfully charge you based on the alleged abuse. If you physically go get him and take him from home rather than him coming to you, that is when you could be at risk for being charged with more than harboring a runaway.

Please do not hesitate to call or chat us if you would like to talk more. We are always here for you and your family.

Best,

NRS

[Guest]

I’m 15 and I want to leave my family. All my parents do is argue and shout and my dad hits my mum, I don’t want her to be abused, I want me, my mum, sister and dog to run away from him as every day he shouts at me for laughing with my friends. Yet when he does anything none of us can do anything otherwise he will Shout at us and hit my mum again. I want him gone from my life but for some reason I don’t, I always wanted a strong father yet every time I cry he tells me to grow up and goes back to sitting on the sofa drinking vodka. I will always love my dad but every day I go to bed crying. It is so bad that earlier I put on my reminders that tomorrow I was going to take my own life. Please help me

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to us. We are very sorry to hear that home is not a good place to be right now and that your mom is being abused by your dad. That's very traumatic for you and the whole family. We are also very concerned when you talk about suicide. We hope that you will continue to reach out for help just as you reached out to us.

We are located in the United States and it seems you are in Great Britain, so we are only familiar with the laws and resources located in the US. Here are some helplines located in your country that you may want to contact to get the help you need:

Support Line:

https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/suicide/

01708 765200

Crisis Text Line:

https://www.crisistextline.uk/

Abuse:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/

0800 1111

We hope the above resources can provide some help, along with other people in you life that you trust reaching out to.

Wishing you well,
NRS

[Guest]

Im 13 and my grandfather is all ways screeming at me over something i didn't do and my 11 year old sister get spoiled be him and i want to move out now

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now, and we want you to know that you are not alone. Being screamed at constantly can be overwhelming and frustrating. One option to consider is to speak with an adult or school counselor about what is going on. We know that most schools are closed right now but some counselors are still meeting with students virtually.
We know that you mentioned wanting to move out, we are not legal experts but we do have some information on the laws. If you were to leave home without permission your legal guardian does have the right to file a runaway report. If the police were to find you they most likely would bring you back home.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and to provide you with support. Best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

Hi. I'm not sure if this forum is active anymore but um, I wondering I guess what I can DO abt my situation? My mom is really verbally abusive and sometimes physically abusive I feel like shes really manipulative because she makes it seem like I'm lazy and do nothing and ungrateful when I push myself everyday to help, in fact I'm the one who does the cooking and cleaning and stuff 87% of the time.... She kinda sleep deprives me, and always gets mad at me no matter what I do,,,, theres not one day where she doesn't say something rude to me. She also really forces religion on to me, and makes me present myself in a certain way to all her friends... I've failed all my classes because my mom takes priority over our religion than my actual grades... I'm always sleep deprived. Shes so JUDGEMENTAL theres just so much I could go on about.

My family is also very 2 faced they act supportive but then all turn on me. I would have no where to go if I decided to leave. I'm too younge to get a job I'm only 14 turning 15 soon. I have no friends to help me because I'm home school....

I feel like the situation is so bad over the last 4 years I've been thinking about suicide. I'm not gonna do it because I feel like I have potential but this whole environment is so stressful for me..

I'm honestly too scared to talk to someone about this because I dont want my mom to get in trouble...

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). It takes courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing what’s going on. It sounds like things are very stressful with your mother’s abusive behavior towards you. We understand you are diligently working in school as well as at home and feel unsupported the rest of your family as well. You deserve to live in an environment where you are safe and treated with respect, and we are sorry you’re going through this.

Your safety and well-being is important and you don’t deserved to be mistreated. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255); www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org is also a great resource to reach out to in addition to our crisis services.

You may also be able to report any mistreatment to Child Protective Services. 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.

We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail 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.

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

I cant be in this house anymore I’m 14 years old and I want to move out as soon as possible

[ccsmod15]

Hello there,

Thank you for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline. Things at home sound overwhelming for you from your message and we are sorry you are struggling. It’s very brave to reach out for help, and we want you to know that we are here to help and support you.

NRS provides supportive services to youth who have no place to go, who are in crisis, or having problems living at home. Sometimes sharing with another person helps to develop strategies to problems not previously thought of. We can talk with you in more detail about what’s going on and are available by phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat with us at www.1800runaway.org by clicking on the chat button. You are welcome to use the forum as well, but please know that we are unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you are in danger or feel unsafe, please contact 911 for emergency assistance.

Thank you again for reaching out to NRS, and we hope to hear from you. Stay strong and know that you are not alone.

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

hi,
im 14 and my life is not the best my parents are always yelling at me and telling me i might as well give up because i've already messed up my life. I'm depressed and angry and i need to get out of my house but i can't and both my siblings are gone at someone else shows for the week and I'm about to brake down and loses it. what do i do

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for contacting us here at NRS. We appreciate you sharing a bit about your situation at home. It can definitely get stressful when the adults at home are not supportive and it is understandable to be feeling overwhelmed. It is not okay for your parents to yell at you constantly or to talk down to you like that. You are a human being and humans make mistakes sometimes. That does not mean you have messed up your life or that you should give give up. You deserve to be treated with respect and to feel cared for.

Having a support system is very important during difficult and stressful times. We want to encourage you to reach out people that you trust to talk to about how you are feeling. This could include friends, family members, a counselor or another trusted adult. If you are not quite ready to reach out to anyone in person yet you can speak with a counselor at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org or by texting "connect" to 741741.

We truly want to be a support for you during this challenging time. If you would like to talk more in detail about what has been going on or further explore options for coping, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. We are available 24/7 by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or through our live chat services at 1800runaway.org.

Stay strong,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I’m 14 I feel like running away because I feel like I’m not for this family no more I feel like I’m not part of this family I don’t like talking back to my mom but just feel like running away

[ccsmod0]

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 seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
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. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
The easiest way to leave home is with your parents' permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). If you would like to look into further emotional support options, you can text with a crisis worker at the National Alliance on Mental Illness 24/7 by texting "NAMI" to 741741.
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