Theraputic... Tattoos?

[Sophie81]

I wasn't sure exactly how to word the title, but I was curious if anyone else has a tattoo or body mod that's sort of a note to yourself in your recovery effort. I have "be kind to yourself" tattooed on my left wrist just under some scars, as a reminder that it's okay to, well, be kind to myself! My husband taps the tattoo whenever I get into a self-hate spiral or am generally being too hard on myself or denying myself something. It sounds kind of odd, but it is quite effective at redirecting my thinking to have that physical, permanent note to myself there.

Do any of you have something similar?

 

[maddog]

Hi Sophie81, and welcome to the forum. I don't personally have a tattoo or anything similar, but I know a number of people who do, and whose tattoos have personal or symbolic significance. In particular, I know of a friend who has a tattoo of a wolf. The wolf represents an old Indian legend about a boy whose grandfather tells him that inside each of us there are two wolves engaged in a battle. The first wolf represents anger, greed, jealousy, cruelty and a number of other negative qualities. The other wolf represents hope, courage, humility, kindness etc. The boy is said to ask his grandfather, "which wolf wins?" And the grandfather is said to respond with, "the one you feed".

I personally love this story, and so did my friend.

That's a long answer to a short question, but in short, I think it's fairly common for many people - not just those fighting journeys of recovery or healing - to tattoo themselves with mantras, symbols or other marks of personal significance. Yours is certainly a good motto to live by.

Maddog

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Welcome to the forum. :)

Yes, I do. I have a tattoo that says "No silence" on the left side of my chest as a reminder to always speak up. From my years of keeping silent about my depression and sexual abuse.

 

[Sophie81]

Thank you both for your answers. :)

I have heard that legend before, and really like the message of it. Ayesha, I think yours is a very important point to remember!

 

[kahlan]

I think its actually fairly common. Personally the whole experience (the process of having the tattoo/mod done is relaxing to me as well as the permanent reminder) is therapeutic. I'm the supporter in my ptsd relationship but have my fair share of painful baggage in my past. But you definitely not alone on this :)

 

[rightkindofme]

I have an enormous back tattoo.

It's the tree I used to climb when my brother was trying to kill me. (The artist asked to add apples... it is supposed to be a willow tree. People always ask me if it is Eve.)

On the bottom are the rocks and brambles with anger and fear--what I have to go through to get to what I want. In the tree she is reaching for forgiveness. The other banners are honor, joy, faith, love, hope and dreams.

I know I need to forgive *me* first.

 

[ashdawn8287]

I have a tattoo on my wrist that says strength.

 

[The Albatross]

My tattoo is Celtic (my father's family origin). I put it on my shoulder to watch my back, it is a peacock but the body is in a knot.

 

[Only 1 of me]

I have a large arm piece, elbow to wrist inside left arm. It is a heart on fire bursting out of dark clouds. Text is 'be who god created you to be and you will set the world ablaze'. Got it recently to mark my recovery progress and also to cover some extensive self harm scarring.

 

[rockyspine]

I do. I have several tattoos but the one for me that signifies healing is my scarab beetle tattoo on my back. Ancient Egyptians believed scarab beetles were a symbol of rebirth and "a new day", basically because the way they pushed balls of dung (lol really) was like how the sun rose and fell each day. Kind of a paraphrased definition, but there it is.

Yes, a dung beetle is my symbol of healing. Haha.

 

[Ice_Fire]

I have a small one on my wrist, that is a heart-trace design with the word 'love' and a heart and then the heart-trace continues. Placed about my self-harm scars as a reminder that I don't need to hurt myself anymore.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I have a few tattoos and they all have special meaning for me. I also have two memorial tattoos, one for my son who was killed in a motorcycle accident. One for my recently deceased husband of thirty six years. Years ago on an anniversary I got my husband a statue at Hallmark of two dolphins swimming together. It became a symbol of us swimming together through life.

I have a tattoo of a dragonfly on my back which is death and rebirth. My sons tattoo is one of roses, because he always fell in the roses when things got bad.

I have a coup feather that symbolizes being wounded and surviving many battles. I have a tree growing through a mountain and rocks into my skin, being between a rock and a hard place. I have a butterfly because first before it could fly it was an ugly caterpillar reminding me that someday things will really change for the better.

Thanks for this topic. It has been interesting reading all the responses. Mabe as time passes you may be inspired to get another.

I know that mine sure help me. Hugs if you want them.