One of the most common psychological explanations for tattoos is that they are a form of risk-taking behavior. This theory suggests that people who get tattoos are more likely to be impulsive and thrill-seeking. They may also be more likely to take other risks, such as engaging in risky sexual behaviors or using drugs.
Mental health tattoos have become increasingly popular to commemorate and celebrate the journey toward recovery from mental illness. They symbolize strength, resilience, and hope, and serve as a daily reminder of one's journey toward mental wellness.
Tattooed young people have lower self-esteem than non-tattooed controls [16–18]. Litt [19] suggested that tattooing is an expression of maladaptive identity. Psychoanalysis schools also view tattooing behavior as hinting at deliberate self-harm motives due to the impaired self-esteem [20–21].
The tattoo is an image that of course has an unconscious meaning besides the conscious one, and brings with it a metaphorical function. Freud mentions the phenomenon of tattoos in 'Totem and Taboo' (1912/13), where he describes how people carve the image of a totem animal into themselves.
For example, several studies have reported that children are more likely to attribute negative acts (e.g., drug use) to tattooed figures (Durkin & Houghton, 2000) and that non-tattooed adults perceive tattooed individuals as more neurotic, less agreeable, less conscientious, and less open to experience than themselves ...
According to a study 22% (of 540 individuals) possessed at least one tattoo. Further analyses showed that, compared with non-tattooed individuals, tattooed participants had significantly higher scores on extraversion, experience seeking, need for uniqueness, and held more positive attitudes toward tattoos.
Negative attitudes to a permanent body modification, especially if on an exposed part of the body, can be intense and cause social and psychological difficulties (Reference Varma and LaniganVarma 1999) that can be alleviated by removal.
Studies about the Healing Power of Tattoos
A new Texas Tech University study suggests that women with multiple tattoos have higher self-esteem, but also more troubled pasts. The study tentatively concludes that tattoos basically serve as a coping mechanism that can successfully raise levels of self-esteem.
Tattoos tell a story, and that story connects to who you are as a person. Whether your tattoo is sentimental, a reminder of a fun time, or it relays a narrative of part of your life, it's an expression of what makes you uniquely you. Some people ink poems or song lyrics on themselves, others have portraits or symbols.
Here are the most common reasons why people regret their tattoos: impulsive decision (35 percent), significant meaning (29 percent), or the idea that it would make them look cool (18 percent). The more thoughtful and careful you are about your tattoo, the less likely you are to regret it.
Semicolon. A semicolon tattoo through the lens of mental health is a symbol of solidarity between those of us who live and struggle with a mental illness or who have lost someone to suicide. "Semicolons are a very traditional, very popular mental health tattoo and they represent that it's not the end," explains Roman.
Why do people with depression get tattoos? Getting a tattoo having to do with your depression can serve as a public declaration, or personal reminder, of what you've overcome. When you've met a challenge head-on, there's often an immense sense of accomplishment when you see a positive outcome.
"Spiritual tattoos — mandala, hamsa, chakra, tree of life, Budha, lotus, etc. — are common for battling anxiety. They symbolize the overcoming of struggle, protection, self care, rebirth, the circle of life, kindness, strength, new challenges, and new beginnings."
People usually get depression tattoos to express their emotions tangibly. For many, having something they can see and touch serves as a reminder of any difficult times they may have gone through, helping them work through their issues.
But out of 25% of the total number of participants, who reported growing up with significant abuse or neglect, as many as 48% had either a tattoo or a piercing or both. The more severe the abuse or neglect they faced, the more tattoos or piercings the participants had, according to the researchers.
For anxiety, someone may get a tattoo to remind them to stay grounded or to stay focused. This could be because it's common for those with anxiety to face challenges related to concentration, focus, or feeling grounded. Someone may also get a tattoo to remind themselves to use self care or to symbolize self care.
But those of us who wonder should remember that while a few are tattooed for shock value, many are just using their bodies to tell us stories, to share emotions. They're wearing their pain, their loss, their hopes, their values, their dreams, and fantasies.
People get tattoos for various reasons, be it to stand out in a crowd, as a form of self-expression, to honor someone's memory, or make a spontaneous decision.
So many of our users are looking for someone with a bit of body art - it's clearly a turn on for both men and women.” Previous research has also found that women tend to look more favourably on men with tattoos, associating them with “good health, masculinity, aggressiveness and dominance,” according to one study.
You know that amazing mood boost you get after an intense gym session? The tattooing process has the same effect. These feel-good chemicals reduce your perception of the pain in the same way as drugs like morphine or codeine. You'll also feel a 'natural high' according to Mark.
Tattoos offer six of the qualities associated with recovery from trauma. Tattoos literally heal from the body out by using the skin to narrate healing in words and images. Tattoos address the essential dilemma in trauma between hiding the unspeakable and proclaiming it.
One in four Australians has a tattoo
Australia is experiencing growth in the proportion of people becoming 'inked'. Our latest study shows one in four Australians has a tattoo (25%) – a record high. This is up from 20% in 2018 and 19% in 2016.
Specifically, he said that people who get tattoos are looking for attention that they feel they are not currently receiving, further noting that you do not get a tattoo for people to not look.
An Act of Self-Care
These acts of self-care may be foreign to people battling depression and anxiety, but because they're mandatory, your tattoo may help encourage positive behaviors for the future. It's easy to slip into apathy when you're depressed, but a tattoo can remind you that you need to look after yourself.
Tattoos breach the skin, which means that skin infections and other complications are possible, including: Allergic reactions. Tattoo dyes — especially red, green, yellow and blue dyes — can cause allergic skin reactions, such as an itchy rash at the tattoo site. This can occur even years after you get the tattoo.