[La_Mignonne]

I'm 16 (coming 17 in July) and I dread coming home from school every day. I've read up on it on the Internet and I'm sure my parents mentally abuse me although they probably don't realise that this is abuse.

They call me worthless, a failure, a waste of space although I'm top of my year. They laugh when I told them my teachers told me to aim for Oxford. They say I have no friends, I have no social skills and I'm "weird" although I have plenty of friends.

I have NO privacy, my phone is regularly taken off me for no reason, my texts read, laughed at and criticised in front of me. They also do the same for my Facebook.

So basically how old do you have to be to move out?

[emily-dreamer]

I'm pretty sure you can move out at 16 - but you would have to tell your parents first. Because you would need money. Have you spoken to them about how they make you feel? Perhaps they don't realise what they're doing to you. Never give up on your dreams, go to Oxbridge if you can and want to. But always remember to try and be happy because no matter how horrible they may seem, it is your mind and they aren't allowed to control that. I hope you can be happy (:

[Cherriesxo]

Talk to someone at your school about it - a teacher or something and make it absolutely 100% clear you don't want to go home because you've had enough of your parents making you feel like you're nothing. If you refuse to go home they have to do something about it.
You can't move out at 16 without your parent's permission which it seems like you won't be getting, it's unlikely they'll put you in care because you're not at immediate risk of harm.
Have your parents always been like this? If it's a recent thing, they may be struggling to cope with their child growing up.
Are you going to college in September? You could balance studying with a part time job. Stay in college all day and try to get as much coursework done as possible, then you can go straight to your job. Then you'll only be at home in the evening where you'll probably be going straight to bed! (it'll be hard work)
That's what I'd do. Also, refuse to give them your phone, or access to your facebook - you are 16, you are allowed your own privacy.
Apparantly you can move out when you're 18 and claim housing benefit until you're 19, but you'll probs be going to Uni when you're 18 anyway.

[La_Mignonne]

(Original post by emily-dreamer)
I'm pretty sure you can move out at 16 - but you would have to tell your parents first. Because you would need money. Have you spoken to them about how they make you feel? Perhaps they don't realise what they're doing to you. Never give up on your dreams, go to Oxbridge if you can and want to. But always remember to try and be happy because no matter how horrible they may seem, it is your mind and they aren't allowed to control that. I hope you can be happy (:

I tell them but they insist that it's my fault...and thank you do you know if I can get anything like EMA in this circumstance or any bursaries for uni?

[NR09]

I agree with the above. Don't stop trying to get not Oxbridge as it seems that you are capable of it.

Speak to your parents about it. If they just laugh it off then speak to a family member like an Aunt or Uncle who you're parents would take seriously.

[La_Mignonne]

I don't have any other family members that I am in the least way close too or know

[Mr.Zen]

See if you can move in with your boyfriend for a while until you've got things sorted out. You might be eligible for Job seeker's allowance, which I believe is around £60 a week. There are always options and I wish you luck, I think everyone knows how it feels to just want to move away from home at that age

[Mrx123]

try and move out