90+ Sobriety Tattoo Ideas That Will Blow Your Mind!

It helps me be more aware of situations and people that may affect me negatively. » Sobriety tattoos can be used as an excuse or crutch if they aren’t done right away after someone gets sober or if they aren’t done right at all. If someone hasn’t been clean or sober long enough or hasn’t really committed to being clean and sober, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ getting a tattoo might not help them stay on track with their recovery. Here at Find Addiction Rehabs, we strive to connect you with top addiction treatment facilities that are dedicated to meeting your personal care needs. While this may seem obvious, many people believe that addiction recovery is a race they must win.

Mental illness is a collective term for a group of conditions that affect human behaviors, thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. Self-harming practices are common to all forms of mental illness. After you’ve had your tattoo done or been inked as it’s commonly known, follow the aftercare instructions given to you by your tattoo artist.

Things to consider before making a tattoo appointment

Others can also reflect on a journey through recovery and wellness. Some tattoos relate to depression, some reminding us of worse times and others of better ones ahead. Furthermore, recovery tattoos may also open people up to unwelcome questions and conversations about their experience with addiction. While not obligated to share their personal information, constantly being subject to the curiosity or judgment of others can be difficult. “I designed this tattoo to cover up the first cluster of scars I made in my early high school years.

• I got this after two years clean of self-harm, to symbolize the strength and resilience I needed to fight my way through recovery.
• Choosing to mark the important decision of becoming sober on one’s body may be a good idea for several reasons.
• At night, the flower closes, only to reopen at dawn the next day.
• He believes that the satisfaction gained from cutting can also be achieved from mental health tattoos.
• Whether adopted as internal icons of recovery, or by the growing number of people who adopt addiction recovery tattoos, these images all hold stark power to remind us of the path out of darkness.

The equilateral triangle with or without a circle around is from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The triangle represents the legacies of AA, which include unity, recovery, and service and the circle is meant to represent AA itself or the community that is available to support you through your journey. “This photo was taken the day I got tatted, so excuse how red my arm looks. This tattoo is actually a quote from my favorite song by my favorite band (“Reaper Man” by Mother Mother, just in case anyone was wondering!). “I used to scratch and just think horrible thoughts of dying constantly.

Hope Tattoo

It’s there, etched permanently, reminding you every day of your strength and resilience. Many recovering addicts are incredibly grateful for the twelve step programs that have helped them achieve their ongoing recovery. There are some really artistic and creative adaptations of these enduring symbols of recovery. Many add other meaningful things like butterflies, compasses, flowers and favorite twelve step sayings. Another fun way to dress up the semicolon tattoo would be to combine the dotted part of the semicolon with a set of cat whiskers, so that it looks like a cat’s face. A tattoo of this nature would serve as a reminder of the areas of life that keep you going, such as your pets or those around you who love you.

Picture a valiant warrior, embellished with elements like flowers, leaves, crosses, or beads, each symbol telling a unique tale of triumph over addiction. Those in recovery may use short words or simple phrases to convey their thoughts and remind themselves to remain clean and sober. A recovering addict tattoo is another way of showing your commitment to sobriety, and of ‘staying the course’ on your recovery journey. Another depression tattoo option would be to pair a musical note with the semicolon so that it looks like one image. Many people with depression lack a belief that things will improve.

Lotus Flower Tattoo Ideas

I also have a small hope that the tattoo is motivation for my brain to produce more serotonin lol.”  — Kate M. Now, this is akin to etching a trophy on your skin, a constant reminder of how your person’s life has bloomed after taking that crucial step. And trust me, this concept strikes a chord with both men and women, serving as a constant source of inspiration. The Alcoholics Anonymous symbol also looks like (and is) composed of a triangle within a circle. In addition, they send a message of hope to others in the recovery community. These symbols often serve as a way for individuals to support others in their struggle against addiction and show them that they do not have to walk the path to recovery alone.

To substantiate this, tattoos are not part of the non-suicidal self-injury conditions as stated in the Diagnostic and statistical manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition2. You don’t have to get a semicolon tattoo because of its universal meaning, and you can choose to attach your own meaning to it, not least the semi-colon appears often in popular culture. You’ll find our recommended mental health tattoo ideas as you keep reading. At the time, I was going through what I thought was professional and personal advancement, and the tattoo was meant to celebrate this advancement. But in reality, when I look back on that time of my life, it was full of chaos, heartbreak, and the beginning of a slow slide to a total crash that almost cost me everything I hold dear.

Mental Health Tattoos & Ink Ideas For Awareness & Recovery

“Breathe in, breathe out, move on,” also serves as an inspiration to those who are attempting to move forward from addiction. Whether adopted as internal icons of recovery, or by the growing number of people who adopt addiction recovery tattoos, these images all hold stark power to remind us of the path out of meaningful sobriety tattoos darkness. This tattoo works well for those that don’t want to commit to a bigger piece and can fit into pretty much any area. Given the significance of the piece and its importance, it will typically be found on an area visible to the viewer, like the forearm, inside of the wrist, back, or side of the chest.

Birds, in general, are viewed as symbols of freedom, movement, and change. Common representations for people in recovery are birds in flight. Songbirds, bluejays, cardinals, and eagles are all common drug recovery symbols. If you are willing to discuss your past because you are proud of your achievements to fight against alcoholism, recovering alcoholics can get a tattoo to mark the days, weeks, and years you stayed sober. This tattoo is a progressive one that will build as you move forward. In that sense, the tattoo can become very large or remain small.