Tattooed with Meaning: How Ink Helped Me Cope with Loss and Find Transformation

I was thinking about what to write today, and quoting from last night's episode of The Apprentice, I think Claude said to one of the contestants in trying to dissuade them from embarking on a business clearly not allied to their core skills sets and experience, "do what you know about" - not an exact quote, but you get what I mean.

Now, I'm quite heavily tattooed, and other than my first tattoos and my first cover-ups, which were more about the style of tattoo I liked, the rest have had some kind of experience I have had or to mark a poignant time in my life. I won't go through all the meanings of my various tattoos, but the latest one, my tattooist Dave Bewick @davebewicktattoo completed yesterday, is the most poignant. The crow has a particular resonance in various cultures and belief systems, and the reason I chose crows for my latest tattoo is due to the connections with death and the afterlife, according to Swedish folklore. They also indicate transformation and change, as they are connected to the cycle of life and are a sign that positive changes or significant life events are on the horizon.

Anyone who has followed my posts and blogs over the past 2 years, and particularly more recently, knows that I have been working towards a new career change from NHS HR to self-employed HR consultant and the final shift towards qualified psychotherapist. During this time, I became the full-time carer for my father, who suffered from dementia and recently passed away at the end of February. The latest tattoo was to commemorate my Dad's passing, not because he loved tattoos - my Dad was not particularly pleased when I got my first tattoos at the age of 17. But he got used to them as they were very much a part of me and my identity, which he appreciated and loved.

The crow you see flying away is my Dad; the still crow is me, watching him flying away, away from the pain and difficulties he faced in seeing his sister deteriorate with the same condition, whilst trying to cope with his own frustration and loss of memory and ultimately independence, which he prized dearly. Both my Mum and Dad prized independence and individuality and, above all, kindness and humour, and instilled this in my sister and me, and we have both grown up to be defiant but ultimately kind and adventurous.

Please note, I am not advocating getting a tattoo - it's not for everyone, and despite growing acceptance and the entry of tattoos into mainstream fashion and culture, there is still significant stigma associated with them. But I have always loved them; the process of thinking about what to get and even the process of the needle against skin, where you kind of enter into a zen state of focus, where troubles you may be experiencing melt away as the needle touches skin, it's the ultimate distraction, and as the process goes on, you have to reach to mindfulness in order to move away from the physical pain.

Given my own experience with tattoos, I thought I'd look into it a bit about how tattoos more generally could have therapeutic benefits, and lo and behold, I've found the following positive affirmation that tattoos can provide significant therapeutic benefits for individuals dealing with trauma, loss, bereavement, identity issues, and isolation. There are four clear means by which therapeutic benefits may be explored:

Storytelling and Meaning-Making:

• Tattoos allow individuals to externalize their personal narratives and life experiences, serving as a "cathartic experience" for self-expression and meaning making.

• The process of choosing and getting a tattoo can be psychologically empowering, providing a sense of control over one's body and life.

Physiological and Psychological Effects:

• The rhythmic and repetitive nature of the tattooing process, combined with the release of endorphins, can have a calming effect on the nervous system and reduce stress.

• Repeated exposure to the tattooing process can increase pain tolerance over time, as the body releases natural painkillers.

• Tattoos have been associated with higher levels of body appreciation and lower anxiety about appearance, contributing to improved mental well-being.

Social Bonding and Community:

• Tattoos can facilitate social bonding and a sense of community, as they can serve as social markers that connect individuals with shared beliefs, interests, or experiences.

Therapeutic Applications:

• Tattoos can be used in clinical practice, such as in art therapy, to help trauma survivors process their experiences and manage unresolved aspects of traumatic events.

• Memorial tattoos can help individuals cope with grief and maintain connections with deceased loved ones.

• Tattoos can be a way for trauma survivors to reclaim their bodies and be seen, as well as a means of expressing memories and feelings.

In summary, the research suggests that tattoos can have significant therapeutic benefits for individuals dealing with various psychological and emotional challenges, including trauma, loss, identity issues, and isolation. The act of getting a tattoo and the meaning behind it can be a powerful tool for self-expression, healing, and community building. So, there you go, who knew? Thank you for listening to my story, and to fellow inked peeps, what do you think about this? What do your tattoos mean to you?

References

Atkinson, M. (2003). Tattooed: The Sociogenesis of a Body Art. University of Toronto Press.
The Register. (2017). Harvard, MIT boffins ink up with health-monitoring 'smart' tats. Retrieved from https://www.theregister.com/2017/09/29/health_monitoring_smart_tats/

Wohlrab, S., Stahl, J., & Kappeler, P. M. (2007). Modifying the body: Motivations for getting tattooed and pierced. Body image, 4(1), 87-95.

Gentry, J. W., & Alderman, D. H. (2007). Trauma written on the body: Tattoos, memorial, and healing. Tourism Geographies, 9(2), 161-169.

French, M. T., Robins, P. K., Homer, J. F., & Tapsell, L. M. (2009). Effects of physical attractiveness, personality, and grooming on academic performance in high school. Labour Economics, 16(4), 373-382.

Mantell, C. (2009). Marking Grief: Tattoos as Memorials. Anthropology News, 50(4), 12-13.
Trachtenberg, J. (1998). Tattoos as Memorials. Omega-Journal of Death and Dying, 37(4), 299-307.

Rohrer, J. (2007). Toward a full-bodied aesthetic of lived experience: Reflections on transformative justice in women's prisons. Women's Studies Quarterly, 35(1/2), 252-254.

Sarnecki, J. H. (2001). Trauma and tattoo. Anthropology of Consciousness, 12(2), 35-42.
Hewitt, K. (1997). Mutilating the Body: Identity in Blood and Ink. Popular Press.