TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
Im so confussed, the things my mom does is slap me, sometimes pushes me up aginst walls, and calls me names, when i tell her i feel like she is abusing me she just laughs and says that what she is doing isnt abuse and some of her friends agree but some other people think it is abuse im just not sure wich is right, and i also feel bad because there are kids in alot worse situations then me, so maby im just being a wimp, please help me understand - a cunfused girl P.S sorry my spelling is so bad =(

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hey there
Thanks for contacting us here at TEENLINE. It seems like you are confused because your mom is hitting you, yet you are not sure if it is abuse. Also, you know kids are who are in situations worse than you so you feel like what you are going through is not that bad. Also when your mom's friends say that what she isn't abusing you, that can add to the confusion. First of all, no matter what the situation is, it is never okay to resort to violence. If your mom is slapping you and pushing you against the wall, that sounds like it might be abuse. When someone feels like they are getting abused by any adult it is important to talk to someone about it and get some help. Do you have any family, or trusted adults that you feel comfortable talking about this with? You can express to them what is going on, and they can get the help that you need. School is about to start again, so maybe you can talk to your school counselor. However, I am concerned for your safety. If your mother is abusing you, that is not okay, even if you think there are others who have it worse. The National child Abuse Hotline is open 24 hours to talk to kids who are possibly being abused by their parents or another adult. The number is 800-4-A-Child. Also if you want to talk further you can always contact us here at teenline at 310-855-4673 from 6-10 p.m. pacific standard time.

a TEEN LINE listener

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
Im so confussed, the things my mom does is slap me, sometimes pushes me up aginst walls, and calls me names, when i tell her i feel like she is abusing me she just laughs and says that what she is doing isnt abuse and some of her friends agree but some other people think it is abuse im just not sure wich is right, and i also feel bad because there are kids in alot worse situations then me, so maby im just being a wimp, please help me understand - a cunfused girl P.S sorry my spelling is so bad =(

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hi there,
Thanks for contacting us here at TEENLINE. It seems like you are confused because your mom is hitting you, yet you are not sure if it is abuse. Also, you know kids are who are in situations worse than you so you feel like what you are going through is not that bad. Also when your mom's friends say that what she isn't abusing you, that can add to the confusion. First of all, no matter what the situation is, it is never okay to resort to violence. If your mom is slapping you and pushing you against the wall, that sounds like it might be abuse. When someone feels like they are getting abused by any adult it is important to talk to someone about it and get some help. Do you have any family, or trusted adults that you feel comfortable talking about this with? You can express to them what is going on, and they can get the help that you need. School is about to start again, so maybe you can talk to your school counselor. However, I am concerned for your safety. If your mother is abusing you, that is not okay, even if you think there are others who have it worse. The National child Abuse Hotline is open 24 hours to talk to kids who are possibly being abused by their parents or another adult. The number is 800-4-A-Child. Also if you want to talk further you can always contact us here at teenline at 310-855-4673 from 6-10 p.m. pacific standard time.

a TEEN LINE listener

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
i started cutting just to see why people did it and when it started to make me feel better i started to do it more and more until i realized i had to stop but i couldnt and i dont know what to do iv been to so many therapy places and had friends try to help but i just dont know where to go from here.

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hey,
Thanks for contacting us here at TEEN LINE. Trying to cope with life and the situations that surround you can be extremely difficult and overwhelming to deal with. I understand that cutting can help sometimes relieve inner pain. I am wondering what might have led you to start cutting. I know that you had said that you were interested in cutting because you wanted to know why other people did it, but i was wondering why you are continuing to cut and if there is something bothering you. It sounds like you really not happy with your situation. Have thought about wanting to stop harming your self? It sounds like you might want support and guidance that will really help you and people that you can rely on. I know you stated that you have sought out friends and therapy places, but i was wondering if you had thought about talking to a trusted adult or when school resumes, a school counselor? I have a couple of resources that might help you. www.self-injury.net is a website that you can get help from. Safe Alternatives phone number that you could call & leave a message and they will call you back when they can. Safe Alternatives also deals with support, family re-unification, as well as other services that may help you. Their phone number is 800-366-8288. Also i was wondering if you have a hobby like writing in a journal or playing a sport that could help you release your pain in other ways. If you feel like you need to talk, the TEEN LINE Hotline is open from 6 to 10 PM PST every day. Please feel free to call in as we are willing to listen to any problems you might have. Our phone number is (310)-855-4673. Thanks again for e-mailing us.

a TEEN LINE listener

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
I was with this guy for like 5 months and everything was going great. but then we broke up because he cheated on me with 5 different girls. and then he sent me a picture of him having sex with another girl. after the break up i found out i am almost three months pregnant by his child. he tells his gf that he is with now that i am a crazy whore and that the baby is not his. but he knows it is his because i only had sex with him. he threatens me saying he is going to take the baby away from me. i dont know what to do anymore.

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hey,
I want to thank you for opening up to us at TEEN LINE. I can only imagine that you are feeling betrayed and scared. I’m sorry that you have been put in such a difficult situation. It is not fair that he has put you through all this cheating and now he continues to verbally harass you. It is never okay for this guy to threaten you in anyway and it is important to talk to someone about this. Pregnancy can be an emotional roller coaster, so I’m wondering if you could talk to any family member, friend, or trusted adult about this. Maybe one of them can help you stay emotionally secure. It is consoling to know you have a consistent figure there to listen to you when you need it. Also, you can definitely use Planned Parenthood as an excellent resource especially for help with pre-natal care. Their number is 800-230 PLAN. You can also always call us at TEEN LINE to talk about this. Our number is 310-855-4673 and we are open from 6-10pm PST. You can also live chat with us at www.teenlineonline.org. I wish you the best.

Take care,

a TEEN LINE listener

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
Is it cheating if I fooled around with a guy when my boyfriend and I were broken up? I felt disgusting and regretted it with all my heart, so I didn't tell him. He found out, of course.

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hey thank you so much for reaching out to us here at TEEN LINE,
It sounds like you feel guilty and ashamed about getting with another guy while you and your boyfriend were broken up. It also seems like you have an emotional attachment to your boyfriend therefore it feels uncomfortable when you're with somebody else. Do you have anyone else you can talk to about this, maybe some close friends or trusted adult? You may find it helpful to share ideas and ask if they've ever been in the same situation. Also, please feel free to call us here at TEEN LINE, we are open from 6-10 PM PST and our number is: (310)-855-4673. .

a TEEN LINE listener

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
I don't know why, but I keep freaking out over anything I don't have control over, which is pretty much everything. Sometimes I feel fine, but recently I can't stop crying or getting really upset about the stupidest things. I have tried to hurt myself over it, but only when it is really bad. I feel like I have no life, and no one is letting me live it, so why should I bother trying? I tried to talk to my mom about it a few months ago, but she just thought I was being over-dramatic. I don't really have any close friends, so I have no one to talk to it about. I think about suicide a lot, but I don't really think I want to die. I'm just worried that one day I will want to die. I don't think that I can talk to anyone I know about it, because they won't take me seriously.

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hey,
Thanks so much for emailing TEEN LINE. It sounds like you are feeling really confused, lonely, and scared because you cannot talk to anyone about the way your are feeling. I want you to know how brave you are for reaching out and trying to get help. You mentioned about how you think you do not want to die right now. Remember that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. One of the best ways to get your feelings out is by talking about them. Have you considered talking to a therapist, teacher, or trusted adult about the feelings you are having? Also, maybe you could try writing in a journal to express your emotions. I want to give you the number of the Suicide Prevention Hotline where you can call and talk to about any suicidal feelings you ever have. The number is (800) 784-2433 or you can visit them online at www.suicidepreventioncenter.org. Also, feel free to call TEEN LINE any day from 6-10 PM PST. Our number is 310-855-4673.

a TEEN LINE listener

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
Ever since my parents got divorced i had to fill the role as "dad", and the load that comes with that has literally drained me over the years. In the past I have done things that i am not proud of, and i have hurt those closest to me. Every morning I wake up and I feel like whats the point of getting out of bed. I don't feel loved, even though I'm sure my mom loves me. I'm dealing with things right now that i cant talk with her about because i don't know what she will do or say. The thoughts of suicide started out small. I used to just think "what would happen if i killed myself this way" but now it has evolved to the point to where i am considering it. i hate it, i cant focus in school at all because all I think about is what I am going through and it sucks. And when ever something bad happens to me or any feeling of grief i trigger these emotions that spiral out of control.

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hello, thanks for contacting us at TEEN LINE. It sounds like you're living with some burdens that are really difficult to deal with. It seems like you had to grow up fast and mature earlier than most people your age. I commend you on your ability to do it all. Although you are struggling with this right now, it sounds like you are a really strong person. Have you ever talked to someone about how you're feeling? Things like divorce and loss of a family figure can change someone's outlook on life. Talking to someone like a school counselor, older relative, mother, or another person, can really help you control your feelings. But if it ever feels like too much to handle, I want to give you the number to the Suicide Prevention Hotline. This hotline is available 24 hours a day and the number is (877)727-4747. Also, if you ever need to talk, you can always call us at TEEN LINE and there will be another teen just like you and me ready to talk to you. The number is (310)855-4673 and we're open from 6-10 PM PST.

a TEEN LINE listener

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
I have a problem, only topic I can think it to be maybe is violence. I feel so angry all the time, I bite my tonge to be sure that I don't lash out, its hard after time, I feel almost as if something is wrong with me or my head, I would like someone to talk to or to help me.

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hey,
Thanks for contacting TEEN LINE. It seems like you're going through a hard time right now and I am glad you are reaching out to get help. It is completely normal to get angry however it concerns me that you say you feel angry all the time. Have you told anyone about what you're going through? Would you consider seeing a counselor or maybe a therapist? Sometimes it helps to talk to people about your feelings to work through them. Expressing yourself by writing in a journal may help too. Please call us if you would like to talk about this some more. Our number is 1-310-855-4673 and we are open from 6-10pm PST.

Take care,

a TEEN LINE listener

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
My parents are in the middle of a divorce and they just told me and my sisters about a month ago. At that same time my mom had told me she was seeing someone who was a really good friend to her. Now my Dad is seeing people and I am really having a hard time accepting my parents seeing other people. I dont want to be upset and mad at my parents but I am really resenting the fact that they go out and see other people.

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hey there,
It seems like it is very hard for you to handle your parents divorce, which is normal. Have you tried talking to your parents about how their divorce is affecting you and about your feelings towards them dating. Having a discussion with them may help them get on the same page and understand why it is dificult for you to accept their divorce. Maybe it would also help if you talked to a trusted relative or friend, someone who is more impartial and not in the middle of it all. In addition, feel free to call us here at TEEN LINE. Our number is 310-855-4673 and our hours are 6-10 pm PST. We would love to talk to you.

a TEEN LINE listener

TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
I smoke weed and my parents pretty much hate me! i dont know what to do anymore and i need so much help.please give me some advice :/

TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hi, Thank you for contacting TEEN LINE. It sounds like you are feeling sort of stressed by this situation. I wonder if you have any trusted adults or friends who you feel you can confide in? Sometimes talking can help you sort through your feelings. Also, you sound kind of sad that your parents "hate you". Have you ever considered talking to them about this? If you do not feel comfortable talking to them outright, you can write them an email or a letter. It is possible they do not know how their treatment makes you feel, and talking to them could be beneficial. It seems to me like you could be worried that your smoking weed is affecting you and your relationships. I would like to refer you to Marijuana Anonymous, a group that can inform you about weed use and provide support. Their website is www.marijuana-anonymous.org, and their phone number is (800)766-6779. Also, if there is anything else you would like to discuss, feel free to contact us at (310)855-4673 between 6-10pm pst.

a TEEN LINE listener