Tattoos, Addiction and Zen

While not obligated to share their personal information, constantly being subject to the curiosity or judgment of others can be difficult. Tattoos, for many people, offer a way to immortalize important symbols and ideas through having them permanently inked on their bodies. This concept proves just as true for those who have made the decision sobriety tattoos to get sobriety tattoos. Even though tattoos are ostensibly safer than drugs or alcohol, it’s never a good idea to replace one addiction with another. Body modification is a normal part of life in recovery and is a generally healthy form of self-expression, but taking it too far may mean that your fascination has crossed the line.

The best visible places for these tattoos are the neck, forearm, shoulder, biceps, wrist, and palm. Piercings will often close if not used for several months or years, and the appearance of tattoos can be reduced or eliminated through the use of costly laser treatments.

Recovery Tattoo

Triangles are a very common symbol that may be used by a recovering alcoholic. This is representative of the Alcoholics Anonymous symbol, and may be accompanied by an enclosing circle representing AA itself. It was those ex-prisoners who tattooed “13” on William’s right shoulder. While his other tattoos glorified drinking and racism, the 13 was dangerous. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ He says it labeled him as a supporter of any number of Southern California gangs that have 13 in their names. And it signaled that he was an enemy of any northern California gang that used “14” in its name. “I felt that whoever got tattoos were tough, and the tougher people that I could be around, the safer I would be,” Williams says.

When you bleed more than normal, it can cause visibility issues for the artist, potentially compromising the quality of the design. It is not necessary for you to be a person who is recovering or has recovered to get a sobriety tattoo. Many people get inked with these sobriety tattoos to show unity and support to their friends or family members who are fighting an uphill battle against addiction. These sobriety tattoos can be done in a variety of formats, and the tattooer has a pool of designs to choose from. They can be done by using only the word recovery, or by using a bottle with a cross sign, or by using a needle with a cross sign, and many such variations can be used. The larger tattoo designs are done on the chest, back, shin, and thighs while the smaller ones are done on the knuckles, wrist, ankle, and shoulder. Often the term sobriety is written, or a broken liquor bottle with a skull sign is the conceptual design for this tattoo.

Amazing Joker Tattoo Design Ideas

For example, some people might choose to make their recovery tattoo into a large work, adding to the tattoo with each passing year. However, others might get a small design that is a personal reminder for just themselves. This is a progressive tattoo that will build as you move forward, similar to the coins that can be earned for Alcoholics Anonymous . The tattoo can grow to be fairly large, but can also stay a small reminder. Just as with alcohol use, for example, body modifications can be healthy in moderation.

He’d been asked by other people in recovery to create some kind of tattoo to symbolize the triumph over addiction. Boettcher himself represents overcoming addiction and achieving something. He started with pot and drinking, and progressed to meth and heroin when he was just 15 years old. Meth was his drug of choice, he says in an interview with City Pages.