Happiful August 2020

“At the beginning of the tattoo
appointment I feel nervous and
excited,” says Rosalie, “then I settle
into the pain like ‘this is OK, I can
cope with this’. There is definitely
a ‘buzz’ especially if your tattooist
is excited to do the tattoo too, and
seeing the finished piece at the
end is amazing. But there is also
exhaustion, and it can take a lot out
of me to push through the pain.”
Rosalie also describes the sense
of empowerment that comes from
travelling to a new tattoo parlour,
and then spending the day with
a complete stranger who will
permanently alter her body. “As
someone with anxiety, this is a
huge achievement,” she tells me.
“Throw in the mix the time spent
in an uncomfortable position, and
the pain of the actual tattoo, and I
am a goddamn warrior.”
Dr Kimberly Baltzer-Jaray, a
lecturer in Women’s Studies at
Kings University College, says that
getting tattoos has supported her
journey with PTSD, depression,
and auto-immune disease. In
particular, tattooing has offered a
positive transition from unhealthy
coping mechanisms such as selfharm.
Kimberly finds that going
under the needle holistically
complements her professional
therapy sessions, and offers a
welcome distraction. The act of
caring for her healing skin has also
proved to be a powerful process.
“I’ve also been tattooing over my
old cutting marks, and that has
helped me come to terms with
my past and move forward to a
better relationship with my body
and mind,” she tells me. “I can see
the old marks through the tattoos,
but no one else knows they are
there, so it’s not really a secret,
Getting multiple
tattoos may affect
your long-term ability
to cope with stress,
and improve your
immune system
by reducing the
release of cortisol
Consider these things before
getting a tattoo, says Mark Bailey:
• Try out temporary tattoos for a
few weeks before you commit
to a real one.
• Discuss your tattoo out loud
with someone you trust.
• Talk to an expert. A good
tattoo artist will suggest you
plan your tattoo(s) carefully.
they’re right there, but only I know
where to look to find them in the
colourful patterns and shading.”
Both Kimberly and Rosalie
highlight the significance of their
relationship with each tattoo artist.
Similar to a therapist, finding the
right one can lead to a lifelong
connection. Kimberly says the
artist she currently works with has
become a trusted friend. “The time
I spend on his table is therapeutic
in a sense. It is an escape from my
world and everything outside, and
it is a safe space, where we both
attend, in some way, to me.”
WORD OF WARNING
According to Mark, this crossover
between tattooing and self-harm
should be approached with
caution. “We know that a principal
reason people self-harm is to
relieve psychological distress. And
if someone were getting tattoos to
provide this relief, I would want
to explore other ways for them to
regulate their emotions.”
No matter what your reasons for
getting a tattoo, there’s no doubt
that it can have transformative
powers. Whether you love the
rush, or just the way it looks, it’s
proof that your body – and mind –
are stronger than you might think.
August 2020 • happiful.com • 69