If you can’t stop hurting yourself, then you may benefit from talking to someone who can support you emotionally. Once you've started relying on self-harming as a way to cope, it can be difficult to stop. But there are 6 hotlines in Netherlands that can support you. Self-harm can look like:

Feeling reckless, not caring whether you get hurt
Imagining hurting yourself
Feeling like you need an outlet to channel your painful emotions
Feeling the need to escape or numb your feelings
Having sudden impulses to hurt yourself
Feeling temporary relief after hurting yourself, but the emotional pain coming back stronger
Feeling like normal ways of coping don't work for you – the pain is a last resort
Coming up with excuses and ways to explain self-inflicted injuries

Since self-harm provides immediate, in-the-moment relief from painful emotions, it’s easy to become reliant on it as your go-to coping mechanism. Stopping may seem impossible and you may be ashamed to even talk about it. However, self-harm is more common than you think. Many people struggle to manage intense emotions.

You may struggle to talk to people about your feelings, but having the right person to talk to can make all the difference. Dedicated volunteers in Netherlands will listen to you without any judgement. Whether you just want to be heard, or you want to explore other coping tools, you can find the support you need.

If you feel like you might need support with self harm, try reaching out to a hotline in Netherlands. It's free and confidential.