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What you need to know about "Feeling controlled and restricted"


We hope what you see here helps. If you are feeling like running away or are away from home, we are here to listen.
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Freedom, feeling controlled & restricted

Feeling like you are being controlled or restricted from doing what you want can be difficult to deal with. It can be frustrating and can make you feel trapped and like you need to run away to escape it.

Sometimes it feels like parents or carers are being too controlling and don’t understand what it’s like to be young these days, and don’t give you the level of independence you feel you should have.

The thing to remember is that the control and restriction could just come from wanting to care for you, protect you and keep you safe. It could also come from a lack of communication – perhaps you don’t understand each other and that is why this has become a problem for you both.

You might find it helps to talk to your parent or carer openly and honestly, and try to get a better understanding of why you both feel the way you do – you might be able to find a way for you to both be happy, or at least be under to understand why they don’t let you do some things and so hopefully you will feel less upset or angry about it.

It might be that the feelings of control and restriction are to do with not being allowed to make your own choices about education, your family’s religion feeling like it doesn’t suit you but being made to live by it, or coming from a strict cultural background, which could mean that things that are usually thought of as ok in the twenty-first century UK may not be allowed.

If you feel that the control and restriction happening to you is more serious than a parent or guardian just being very protective, then you could be experiencing something different – which you can find information about in our section on emotional abuse.

Freedom, feeling controlled & restricted
Are you thinking of running away because you have been affected by feeling controlled and restricted?
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The Runaway Helpline can only provide services to children and young people within the United Kingdom, and information and advice on this site relates to the UK only.

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