"Spiritual tattoos — mandala, hamsa, chakra, tree of life, Budha, lotus, etc. — are common for battling anxiety. They symbolize the overcoming of struggle, protection, self care, rebirth, the circle of life, kindness, strength, new challenges, and new beginnings."
Semicolon. A semicolon tattoo through the lens of mental health is a symbol of solidarity between those of us who live and struggle with a mental illness or who have lost someone to suicide. "Semicolons are a very traditional, very popular mental health tattoo and they represent that it's not the end," explains Roman.
But for some anxiety sufferers, tattoos have a place in their healing journey. If they can mark their bodies with reminders, and turn to those reminders in their darkest times, maybe they can loosen anxiety's grip or at least breathe through the grasp.
If you're looking for anxiety tattoos, you've probably seen a lot of options with semicolons. Semicolon tattoos were inspired by Project Semicolon – a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention. Over time, the semicolon has been used to represent mental health awareness, including anxiety.
While tattoos can have a positive impact on a person's mental health, they can also be used to cope with mental illness. For people with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, tattoos can serve as a way to feel empowered and in control of their lives.
The traditional semicolon tattoo originated with the Semicolon Project that was started by Amy Bleuel in 2013. Her mission was to encourage people living with mental illness and to give them hope.
An Act of Self-Care
These acts of self-care may be foreign to people battling depression and anxiety, but because they're mandatory, your tattoo may help encourage positive behaviors for the future. It's easy to slip into apathy when you're depressed, but a tattoo can remind you that you need to look after yourself.
Getting a tattoo meaning calm likely means that you have a great deal of disruption in your life.
A semicolon tattoo is a tattoo of the semicolon punctuation mark (;), which is used as a message of affirmation and solidarity with those who have dealt with suicide, depression, addiction, and other mental health issues.
The three dots tattoo represents “Mi Vida Loca,” which translates to “my crazy life.” It often means the struggles of the underprivileged and the minorities. It's a way of saying, “my life is crazy, but I'm thankful for it,” or “life may be crazy, but I'm still here.”
Getting a tattoo reduces cortisol levels, (a stress hormone) which also helps improve the immune system but even reduces stress! Tattoos can be painful. However, the body battles the pain by releasing adrenaline and endorphins which leads to the person getting tattooed feeling elated.
The lotus symbolizes growing and overcoming obstacles, hardship, and whatever life throws at you.
The green ribbon is the international symbol of mental health awareness. Wear a green ribbon to show colleagues, loved ones or simply those you walk past that you care about their mental health. It can also be worn in memory of a loved one.
The green ribbon is the international symbol for mental health. In Eastern religions, the lotus flower is a symbol of enlightenment and rebirth. Lotus flowers grow in deep mud, so many people choose it as a tattoo design to symbolize how they've risen from hardship, and as a reminder that they can overcome anything.
You might have seen rainstorm images, ravens, and skull or grim reaper symbols. Barren landscapes and faces of cliffs are popular, too. All of these are commonly associated with depression because they capture the essence of the darkness, despair, struggle, and thoughts of death that are hallmarks of major depression.
Mental health tattoos have become increasingly popular to commemorate and celebrate the journey toward recovery from mental illness. They symbolize strength, resilience, and hope, and serve as a daily reminder of one's journey toward mental wellness.
Arrows are often used to symbolize moving forward and making progress. They can represent a new direction in life, a new goal or ambition, or simply a reminder to keep moving forward. An arrow tattoo can be a powerful symbol of change and transformation, reminding you to stay focused on your goals and not give up.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in mood regulation and controlling feelings. Those with a serotonin tattoo may have it as a reminder to stay happy and calm.
The Lotus: A Calming Symbol of Relief and Reflection.
Ensō is a Japanese word meaning "circle" and a concept strongly associated with Zen. It symbolizes enlightenment, strength, elegance, the universe, and the void. Ensō symbolizes a moment when the mind is free to simply let the body/spirit create.
Description of Calm
The Calm symbol consists in a wide, inverted V shape.
One of the most common psychological explanations for tattoos is that they are a form of risk-taking behavior. This theory suggests that people who get tattoos are more likely to be impulsive and thrill-seeking. They may also be more likely to take other risks, such as engaging in risky sexual behaviors or using drugs.
“Tattooing starts at the body's first line of defense, the skin, and uses it as a canvas to physically bear witness to the assault experienced on body, mind, and sense of self. As such, it often visually and viscerally becomes a source of healing,” Suzanne Phillips, a psychologist, had explained.
Researchers around the world who study human behaviors have been interested in finding out what makes people modify their body. They have found that individuals with tattoos report that they feel more attractive, stronger and more self-confident—having overcome the fear of pain.