Tattoos have always had power and meaning beyond just ink on the skin. There are countless reasons to get ink on your skin, including to show status or standing in a community, to signify group affiliation, to visually express your inner state, or pure aesthetic feeling.
Meanwhile, mental health and mental health awareness is slowly shifting from taboo to part of everyday conversation, and for many people who have suffered from mental health issues, tattoos can be empowering, raise awareness and show solidarity with others coming forward.
There is a lot of variety, but here are some of our favorite mental health tattoo designs for self-care and self-love.
1. Butterfly
The classic butterfly tattoo is more than just a beautiful design: a butterfly begins life as a caterpillar before transforming into its final form: a vibrant, beautiful, flying creature.
This journey will resonate with those who have struggled with their mental health and have been through difficult times and overcome them.
2. Lotus flower
Floral tattoos are evergreen and always in fashion – you can’t go wrong choosing a rose, peony or chrysanthemum – but the lotus flower holds a deeper meaning for people struggling with mental health.
Growing from the mud beneath the water and blooming on the surface in vibrant shades of purple, pink and white, lotus plants represent strength, resilience and the potential for renewal despite difficult circumstances.
Many clients and artists combine the lotus with animal drawings, the Om symbol, or other drawings to intensify its meaning. A commonly used variation of the text is “All flowers grow out of the mud.”
3. Seated meditator
While many see the seated meditator tattoo as representing a connection to Buddhism, yoga, and other spiritual practices, this tattoo also has spiritual wellness meanings.
For those who suffer from anxiety, being present in the moment can be difficult, and this mindfulness tattoo is a reminder to focus on what you can control.
4. Breathe
A text tattoo in the right place can remind you to stay focused.If you’ve ever experienced a panic attack, you know it can be overwhelming and make you feel like you have no control over your body.
This simple text tattoo is often inked on the fingers, wrist, forearm or inside of the hand to help refocus your energy and control your breathing.
5. Semicolon
One of the simplest designs on this list has deep meaning within the mental health community. In writing, semicolons are used when a writer could end a sentence but still want to continue it. If you look carefully, examples of this technique are everywhere.
Many people who have suffered from suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses get a semicolon tattooed on their body to represent their determination to continue overcoming difficulties.
Many celebrities, including Selena Gomez, have adopted this tattoo design to help raise awareness for Project Semicolon, suicide prevention, and mental health organizations.
6. Broken Chains
Commonly seen in prison tattoos, broken chains are a powerful image that represents freedom from bondage, confinement and oppression.
Those who suffer from depression or anxiety may interpret this as a symbol of self-acceptance or moving away from identifying themselves solely with mental issues. It may also indicate that you have suffered a trauma but have moved on from it.
It is often tattooed on the hands, under the collarbone, and on the wrist.
7. This Too Shall Pass
This text tattoo is an adaptation of a saying from a medieval Persian Sufi poet: For many, things will not always be the same as they are now. Neither good, bad, nor neutral will last forever.
For those battling difficult times, these words of affirmation can serve as a gentle reminder to stay strong, persevere, and never lose hope, balancing out the sometimes pervasive negative self-talk that accompanies mental illness. While delicate lettering is often preferred for this style of body art, some people prefer Persian calligraphy.
8. Barbed wire
Barbed wire tattoos originated in the world of crime, with each wire representing a year of prison time, but since becoming part of the tattoo lexicon, their meaning has changed and there are many different reasons why people want one.
Because crossing a barbed wire fence can be painful, many who have it see it as a bold statement that they have overcome pain and trauma. From another perspective, this meaningful tattoo can be seen as protection from the challenges we face.
9. Serotonin Compounds
The neurotransmitter serotonin is also known as the “happiness hormone,” and many medications prescribed for depression and anxiety increase serotonin levels in the brain.
Serotonin tattoos are usually done as simple line tattoos depicting its chemical structure, with some designs embellishing the basic layout with flowers.
People choose this tattoo to represent their struggle with mental health, raise awareness, or show solidarity with others. This tattoo can be a meaningful part of your mental health journey.
10. Phoenix
The mythical phoenix is an immortal bird that lives for hundreds of years before disappearing in flames and rising from the ashes to new life. A phoenix tattoo represents going through difficult times and emerging stronger than ever before.
The bird is often depicted in bold red and orange colors, and is sometimes depicted engulfed in flames or in flight with its wings outstretched.
11. Moth
Many of us are familiar with the expression “like a moth to a flame,” which means we are drawn to things that can hurt us, but it has a different meaning when it comes to mental health tattoos.
Nocturnal moths only come out at night and are attracted to light sources. This means that no matter how difficult and dark the situation may seem, they will never forget to follow the light at the end of the tunnel. Just like butterflies, moths also go through metamorphosis before reaching their final form.
It is often tattooed on the sternum or abdomen, and variations on the basic design incorporate a crescent moon or other light source.
12. Lavender
Lavender is loved for its soothing and calming essential oil, and its color and shape make it a great houseplant or garden plant.
While this tattoo may be chosen purely for its appearance, people who suffer from anxiety may also choose lavender tattoos as a subtle way to express their connection to anxiety. These are usually drawn with simple line drawings and shaded with purple and green accents.
13. Carp
The key to the meaning of koi carp tattoos lies in the legend of Dragon Gate, in which a koi carp swims upstream, through rivers, waterfalls and other obstacles, until it reaches Dragon Gate at the top of a mountain and is transformed into a powerful dragon.
Often depicted as a pair of two fish or a single fish emerging from the water, this tattoo symbolizes perseverance, strength, determination and resilience during difficult times.
14. Green Ribbon
The green ribbon is the international symbol of mental health awareness. People who have this tattoo may have mental problems themselves, but they may also get it to express solidarity with friends, family and all others who face the same issues.
The most common design is the ribbon itself, but it may also be incorporated into other designs, such as the stem of a flower, the body of a butterfly, or next to accompanying text.
15. Overthinking Brain
Overthinking heads are a broader category than a single design. These designs usually depict human faces with some modification. Faces with mazes, swirls, or squiggles coming out of them, heads with multiple faces stuck together, and foggy faces are all common variations.
In the context of mental health, the meanings of these designs are endless: for some, they represent what it’s like living with bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and other disturbing conditions.
16. Hiding self-harm
For those who have experienced self-harm, tattoos can be a powerful way to transform that pain into something positive. With this category of tattoos, it’s all about personalization, so a single image isn’t the most common.
When it comes to scars, some people choose tattoos that blend in with their scars – designing the tattoo around the scar or adding text into the gap – while others choose to completely cover their scars with hopeful, inspirational images.
Mad Rabbit helps you respect your mental health with a tattoo
Tattoos of all kinds can have very personal meanings, but designs that represent mental health issues can be even more so. From simple line drawings to text and intricate designs loaded with meaning, these tattoos can be therapeutic and reassuring to the wearer.
Mad Rabbit tattoo aftercare products help extend the life of your mental health tattoo with the same thought, intention and care that inspired your decision. Our Soothing Gel supports the healing process by restoring the moisture barrier and soothing inflammation during the first two weeks of healing.
By applying our tattoo balm daily to newly healed or existing tattoos, you can help preserve your tattoo and maintain the vibrancy of these meaningful designs long after you’ve left the chair.
source:
The Importance of Mental Health Awareness | Pine Rest
Chemical structure of serotonin | ChemSpider
Overview | Project Semicolon
