(TW: suicidal thoughts/ self harm)
Edit to add: I somehow accidentally deleted my original post- I have no idea how- this includes the comments people made. My bad.

Does anyone else use tattoos and body art to help remind them their story isn’t over?

This is my latest tattoo. I have 12, 5 of which I call suicide tattoos or therapy tattoos. A semicolon to show my story isn’t over, a black heart to remind me that there is a whole community behind me, and colors to remind me that shadows can turn into light.

I haven’t always had great coping strategies. When it was bad I turned to various forms of self harm (cutting, starving myself, binging, taking inappropriate risks) that were providing a temporary fix to a permanent condition. In the last 8 years I’ve found that tattoos give me same sense of control, but by adding something beautiful, and they provide a reminder that it’s okay, even when I’m not. Every tattoo is a reminder that whatever was bad in the moment could be overcome.

I’m also extremely lucky to have an amazing tattoo artist who takes my ideas and thoughts and turns them into art.

#Anxiety #Depression #MentalHealth #Tattoos #Selfimage #bodyart