Body ar therapy
Tattooing is often seen as a mainstream fashion statem these days, with people in every walk of life sporting ink designs, but for many it is a powerful support for mental h and recovery from trauma, discovers
TATTOOING has been around for at least 6000 years but it’s never been more popular. So popular in fact that it’s estimated a third of adults aged in their 30s have had one done.
Tattoos can be many things – exquisite art, self-expression, a tribute or an act of defiance. But for some it can also be therapeutic.
People credit tattoos with helping their mental health, whether as part of a healing process or as a reminder they have survived tough experiences and can continue to do so.
“Tattooing enhances self-esteem and self-confidence, which are both central to mental wellbeing and overcoming traumatic experiences,” said clinical psychologist Dr Joanna Livingstone, director of Key Psychology Services.
Jessica King, 30, from Bradford, sees her tattoos as a reflection of her determination to leave self-harm behind her after a series of catastrophic events resulted in her being hospitalised.
“I was 26 when my pet shop business failed, my marriage was falling apart and then my dog died,” said Jess.
“I was admitted to hospital knowing that if I didn’t go voluntarily I would be sectioned, and I was there for a month. I was at my lowest ebb.
“I started self-harming at 13 after a traumatic event that I had no way of coping with.
“For as long as I can remember I’ve battled with my mental health but that hospital stay resulted in a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, which brought about a real change in me.”
Jess had always wondered why she’d reacted to stressful situations by cutting her arms, and suddenly everything made sense.
“It wasn’t an excuse though,” she said. “Instead, I asked myself what I could do about it and while I came out of hospital extremely unwell, I knew I was on the path to recovery.
“However, it was a really hot summer and I didn’t want to go out in short sleeves as everyone would see my scars. I felt really trapped in the house and in my situation.”
Jess started looking into scar cover-up possibilities and discovered Skinflicted, a tattoo studio in Keighley, Yorkshire, which provides tattooing for breast cancer survivors who have undergone mastectomies.
“I phoned and asked if they could cover my scars and was invited in for a chat” she said.
“The tattooist was lovely, really gentle and understanding. She took me into a private room so I felt free to talk, and carefully examined my scars.
“She then said they needed another couple of months of healing before she could tattoo over them but I went away feeling reassured and that I had been understood.”
Having lost her business, Jess’s main worry now was paying for the £300 tattoo.
“I had a £250 overdraft and set up a funding page online for £50 – but my lovely friends ended up paying the full £300,” she said.
“I was really nervous, but excited, when I went for my tattoos.
“The first arm was the worst in terms of
Often people are ashamed to bodies even to those close to t give someone that freedom is
scarring but the process wasn’t that uncomfortable – the second was more painful.
“It took five hours for both arms and when I left I went to a cafe for hot chocolate and cake to celebrate.
“Then I took off my cardigan and went to the pharmacist to pick something up. The first thing he said was, ‘I love your tattoos,’ and it’s hard to describe how that made me feel.
“I was so happy to be able to show off my arms, but it was more than that – a step forward into a new life.”
Four years on, Jess hasn’t self-harmed since, though she admits to moments of temptation during times of extreme anxiety.
“I know some people say tattooing is like self-harm, but it’s quite different,” she said.
“Self-harm is an instant coping mechanism but tattoos need to be planned and scars need to be healed to get it done. I made that promise to myself when I came out of hospital and I scars to heal enough
“I’m not going t artwork, and I see th in the people who SCUFF, which I help tattoos.”
SCUFF – Scar Co (scuff.org.uk) – was funding for tattoos t as well as training people who are self-h for people who need
“There has to b self-harming,” said J
“The application three to six months tattoos can be don harming. Often it’s n
“The whole proces to then being able to just how much they I feel it has all contr and helped my men
Tattooist Jo Harris
Shrewsbury, Shrops play a positive role in self-harming.
“I’ve had many ca in whose scars are n using it as a way t said Jo.
“It’s so powerful needs a little help a dark place.
“Talking about the to self-harming dur can help overcome
“Often they’re too bodies even to tho give someone that magical.
“It’s allowing some in their own skin so t in shame and hatin
“A tattoo can turn t they love and are the world.”
waited patiently for my h to do it. to spoil that beautiful hat same determination o come to the charity ped set up after getting
show their them. To s magical shire, agrees that tattoos n helping people to stop
over Up Freedom Fund set up in 2018 and offers to cover self-harm scars, g for those caring for harming, and workshops d help to stop. be motivation to stop Jess. n process takes time – is the minimum before ne after stopping selfnine months to a year. ss, from planning tattoos o look at them and know mean to you, is therapy. ributed to my recovery ntal health.” son (un1ty.tattoo) from ases of clients booking not healed, but they are to stop the self-harm,” to someone who just p to lift them out of e traumas that led them ring the tattoo process them. o ashamed to show their ose closest to them. To freedom back is truly eone to feel comfortable they are no longer hiding ng their body. that area into something proud to share with