My mom hits me every day now, please help.
STAY SAFE:
- Here at TeenCentral, we want you to how much courage it must take to talk about the abuse you are enduring. You are strong! And you deserve to be heard and be safe.
- It is so important for you to know that EVERYONE deserves to feel safe, no matter where you are. If you are ever in a place where you do not feel physically safe, PLEASE CALL 911. It is not ok for anyone to put their hands on you! Make sure you get help right away.
- If you don’t feel comfortable calling the police here are some places you can turn for help:
- Contact the Child Help USA National Hotline. This is a resource that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 170 different languages. If you are suffering from child abuse, this hotline can help. Simply call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) or visit them online at childhelpusa.org.
- Every state in the US has their own reporting system for child abuse as well. With one quick Google search you can find a resource to report what is happening to you. Type into google, “Report Child Abuse {Enter your state here}”.
- Remember- reaching out to anyone (any trusted adult or peer) is better than suffering alone in silence. Is there anyone in your life that you can ask for help? This can be anyone; a teacher, a neighbor, or a trusted adult. There are people that want to help you. Your voice matters, and they are there to listen.
MAKE A PLAN:
- It is a really good idea to have a plan in place if your mother becomes abusive again in the future. Try writing this plan down somewhere.
- Where is a safe place in your home (or outside of your home) where you can go?
- Who can you call to get support immediately?
- What coping skills can you use until help arrives?
- You are not alone in this. Check out this blog on TeenCentral for additional supports. This may also be a useful guide to help you make your safety plan.
