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i’m 15 years old, female, i live in texas. i’m not old enough to get emancipated yet but i cannot stay in this house. my dad is emotionally abusive and has messaged/ threatened my friend and her entire family because he doesn’t like us being friends. on top of that he has insulted me and my intelligence non stop and constantly is telling me i’m not doing enough or good enough. I dont know what to do or how to get out of this. please help.
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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 with your dad. 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
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Im 15 and my parents dont support me on anything I really overwhelmed I have so many thoughts in my head im tired of everything and everyone my parents make it harder for me to succeed when they dont support me on anything I try talking to them but we always end up fighting.Comment
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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 with your parents. 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).
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
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I’m a 15 year old girl with an infant. I’ve never felt safe in my house because of my past I have PTSD and my father makes it no better, he mentally abuses me, is trying to push so much stress on me when my gram just passed away so that’s already enough stress to the point I don’t know what to do with my life. I want to raise my child in a place where I feel comfortable and not threatened all the time. The baby’s dad is in our lives still but my father won’t let me leave he would rather have me working part time with an infant and doing cyber with no sleep or any help. I’ve been extremely depressed with all that’s been going on I don’t know how much more I can take before I snap and completely lose myself.Last edited by ccsmod4; 09-25-2020, 02:05 AM.Comment
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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.
We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
Our condolences to you for your grandmother.
We want you to know that you are strong for having gone through so much already.
It’s hard to raise a child and face being abused. You don’t deserve this terrible treatment from your father. It’s not your fault that he is doing this. We understand that it has been an upsetting situation for you. You are proving to be a strong person through it all.
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.
NRS is here to listen and here to help. If you would like to discuss strategies and or options to try and manage your situation, please contact 1-800-Runaway (786-2929) or www.1800runaway.org
Take care,
NRS
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hi iam a 15 yearold girl and i want to run away from home because i dont want to live with my famaily because it is broken down i dont live with my mom and my dad did somethings along time ago like when i was proply in middle
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Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to us. We are sorry to hear that things have been so difficult with your family. It sounds like your family has not been a good source of support for you , and something may have happened that involved your dad when you were younger. You deserve to live in a space where you feel safe, and it sounds like you are hoping to live somewhere else.
If you were abused or neglected as a child and no one reported it in the past, you may be able to do so now. We are not legal experts, but depending on the state you live in, you may be able to file an abuse report regardless of when the abuse occurred if you were a minor. An organization that may be able to help you is called Child Help. They can be reached at 1.800.422.4453, or via their website at www.childhelp.org . Please know that there are organizations that can support you, like us, and will do our best to help you explore your options.
If you are considered a minor in your state, you would require consent from your parent or legal guardian to live somewhere else. If you leave without your guardian’s consent, they have the right to file a runaway report with your local police department. Typically, the local police department will bring you back to your legal guardian if you are found. If you are considering running away as an option, it is important to consider how you would stay safe. Some important things to keep in mind include:
Where will you stay?
How long will you be gone?
How will you secure food?
How will you keep yourself safe while you are gone?
Whatever you decide, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We cannot tell you what to do, but we will do our best to help you figure out your next step in a way that keeps you safe. You can reach us 24/7 by phone at 1.800.RUNAWAY (786.2929) or via chat at www.1800runaway.org . We are here to listen, here to help. Stay safe!
-NRS
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Im 15 and want to leave.
My mom is always beating me and calling me stupid and retarded . she even tried to kill me a couple times. she hates me and hates everything I do. she tried kicking me out like 5 times but my sister told her no. She has called the cops on me 7 times. she hasn't put me out yet because my sister has anxiety and is emotionally connected to my mom and stepdad. If I run away I know who to stay with. My best-friend and his family said they would be happy to take me in adopt me if necessary. It's to the point where I'm scared of going to my house and talking to her because im scared she'll try to hurt me. I'm very smart and strong, athletic and want to go to college. But my mom makes me think of suicide sometimes.Comment
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Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out to us and sharing a little bit about what's going on. You certainly are dealing with a lot and it sounds very difficult. However, as you say, you are strong and it sounds like you are confident that you can move forward with your goals in life. Of course, in the meantime it sounds like your mom is causing you a lot of pain and misery. Here are some things to keep in mind as options:
1) If you are ever in immediate danger -- if you are physically threatened or hurt -- you can always dial 911 or try to remove yourself from danger. You have a right to be safe.
2) You clearly are being emotionally and physically abused by your mom, which is very sad. But you can make an abuse report about what's going on. Reporting abuse doesn't always automatically remove you from the home, but it could start a process in which that is eventually what happens. If you do decide to report, it would be helpful to be as detailed as possible, explaining what happened with possible dates. If you have any physical injuries like bruises or scratches, you may want to photograph these as they can be used as evidence of abuse. But please know that physical evidence is not a requirement for reporting. You can report abuse by calling your state's child abuse reporting hotline, through us via phone or chat, or by contacting www.childhelp.org (800-422-4453).
3) Perhaps you can ask permission from your mom to live elsewhere. If you got permission to leave and stayed with your friend's family, you would not be considered a runaway. However, if you left without permission your mom could file a runaway report on you and anyone you stay with could be considered harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor in most states.
4) Suicide sounds pretty serious and we really hope you will reach out to others for help if you are thinking about killing or hurting yourself. The problems your mom is causing you will one day end, while suicide is a permanent situation. As you write above, you have a lot of incredible qualities and it sounds like you have a bright future ahead of you, despite the temporary difficulties you face. Please reach out to someone you trust with your feelings: maybe another relative, friend, school counselor, or anyone you feel comfortable with. It may take courage to speak up, but you have that courage inside you. Of course, if you are in immediate danger to yourself please dial 911 or call 1-800-273-8255 (https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org).
We hope this helps. You don't have to face this alone. Feel free to reach out to us anytime by phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY or by chat via the chat feature at www.1800runaway.org.
All the best,
NRS
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My daughter run away I call police I’m I’ll I can’t go many places to se. if she their can you help meComment
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Hello there -
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline public forum. We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on.
We are sorry to hear that your daughter has run away and you haven’t been able to locate her yet. It’s great that you have contacted the local authorities and have filed a report, that is usually the first step just in case they come across them where she isn't supposed to be. Unfortunately since we are an anonymous crisis hotline, we don’t post any information about those that are listed as runaways or missing or help search for runaways. There is another agency that might be better suited for that since they take reports and help create online flyers for parents with missing children. This agency is called “National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)” (800.843.567
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If you have contact with any of their friends it might be best to reach out to anyone that you can think of, even neighbors and other relatives. Usually when youth run, they share their plans with others that are close to them or stick to places they are familiar with.
We hope this response was helpful!
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i’m 15 and i wanna run away . And never wanna be in this family or talk to my family again. my own mother told me to runaway and live on the streets and go sleep with a grown man. and everything she tells my dad he believes it . I just a new family and a better life .Comment
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Hey there! Thanks for reaching out to us here at NRS. We know that it can take a lot of courage to do so, and we're happy you did. It sounds like things at home are pretty tough for you right now, especially with your mother saying some hurtful things to you, and your dad believing everything she says. It's understandable that you're having some thoughts around a new family and a better life. Working through conflicts at home, particularly with parents, can be hard sometimes. Having someone to talk to about what you're going through, like a teacher or a school counselor, can be really helpful. Not only will that allow you the opportunity to get some of what's going on off your chest, it could also mean that you have someone by your side who can advocate for you, and maybe even try and help you communicate with your parents about how you're feeling.
If you'd like to talk through your situation in more detail, please feel free to give us a call (1-800-RUNAWAY), or pop into a live chat (www.1800runaway.org). We're available 24/7 and are always happy to listen, and to help.
Hang in there.
NRS
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i am 15 and my parents call me names and say i am not good enough and i am tired of it and they always yell at me when i am crying and call me names and take my phone for no reason and at this ponit i dont know what to do and i really need help and i get wake up outta my sleep and they yell at me and they always blame stuff on me and make me do everything i got takein from my mom by DCF and my dad all he does it talk bout my mom in front of my face and i cry theres alot more but its way to much
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Hi there,
Thank you for taking the time to write us here at NRS and we appreciate you sharing your situation with us. It sounds like there is a lot that you are facing at home and its been overwhelming. Reaching out to talk about what's been happening was a really good first step to getting any support that you may need. You mentioned that you are living with your dad currently and its been feeling incredibly stressful for him to talk about your mom in such a hurtful way. Your feelings around this are completely valid and you deserve to feel supported and loved at home. We want you to know that you are not alone in this. We are available 24/7 to listen by phone at 1-800-786-2929 and through live chat at 1800runaway.org. We can be a safe space for you to express how you feel, explore your possible options, and brainstorm ways to get more support. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
NRS
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Im 11 and my family is too controlling they don't understand anything im going through my mim judges me for the things i like and i cant even choose what i wear or even what colors my mom wants me to be this pretty pink princess but i dont want to and shes saying im making a deal about it and i keeps telling her that she doesnt. understand i really just need to go to college as soon as possible to get away from them, i am starting puberty now and im very insecure about myself, i have stretch marks and i just need to hide them and my mom is forcing me to wear s pink bathing suit and they even asked me what color i wanted and they chose the exact opposite. pink. i asked them why and everything and they said they wanted me to stand out but i dont want to stand out i want to normal like evryone else everyone can be confident in themselves everyone can be confident with what they like everyone else can express themselves with what they wear, it not that i want to wear crop tops or shot shorts or anything my mom said im so stupid because all i want to wear is black and i hate her judging me they are really strict i cant even have social medias and i cant even have friends over and i cant go to my friends house and i just feel like an outcast compared to anyone else and my family is not helping my family is also emotionally abusive but im not comfortable going into detail and i just dont wanna be here anymore i dont wanna live anymore id rather go to hell than be in the one im already living in i just dont know what to do to be able to move out is 16 but with my parents permission i just cant do it anymore and ive already tried self harm but i got caught and i got hit for thing those thoughts i got yelled at and tokd that im being ridiculous and that im stupid and dumb and that they are ashamed that i am their daughter i just cant anymore. please help.Comment
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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. It sounds like you’re fearing that the situation may end in suicide if things don’t change. Your safety and well-being is important. 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.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. This may be an isolating and lonely time for you, but 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 call or chat soon. Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe and stay strong,
NRS
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Re: i want to runaway but im 15
I want to runaway my mom has these big expectations on me and doesn't like my interest i can't be the real me i am also a bisexual but i haven't told my mom and her husband yet because im scared of what their reaction might be, i also just had a one sided argument with my mom where she yells and tells me what im going to be growing up because of something that wasn't in my control and i have to agree or be yelled at i just want it to stop and runaway im just so tiredComment
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Hi there,
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/
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.
If you can give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or reach out through Live Chat we can try to find some youth resources that may be near your city and state by utilizing our database.
Stay Strong,
NRS
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I'm 15 years old and my parents are constantly angry about something the dishes, the laundry, the kids not eating or not being bathed, they are getting mad at me and yelling at me for things I have no responsibility to do. I am not meant to be cooking, cleaning, babysitting, doing school, and not be able to be a teenager. I'm mentally drained and my parents constantly tell me I do nothing or I don't know what tired is, while my older siblings do nothing to help me I no longer want to live with them or be around them. I feel uncared for and I feel that they think because they feed, shelter, and cloth me I owe them everything. I don't know what to do and at this point I'm going to run away or beg to be given away because this is not how I wish to live anymore. What do I do?Comment
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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. 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
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