How Getting Tattooed Helps Me Cope With My Chronic Pain

When you experience chronic pain, it really changes how your brain works. Every once in a while, I stop being hard on myself and start to realize that I’m doing pretty great considering I am often in pain within any part of my body at any given time.

I got my first tattoo when I was 15 years old (no, I don’t regret it, it’s still relevant and beautiful) and that got a train rolling, as now I have well over 20 different tattoos.

Sometimes it seems weird to people that I would go and subject myself to guaranteed pain for an extended period of time, under the needle of a tattoo artist, as if my chronic pain isn’t enough.

Other people may think I’m a masochist who craves pain, and maybe in a way, I am.

So, what happens when I decide I want to get tattooed? That I want to subject myself to a few hours of tiny needle stabs and the dreaded paper towel wiping? Aside from loving art, tattoos, and how tattoos look on me – I love the control. I love the fact that with this pain, I am in control – I am choosing to experience this pain, and in the end, I get a beautiful reward.

Chronic pain has a way of making you feel like you’re a stranger in your own body. It’ll make sure you are never entirely comfortable, that you’ll never be nearly as prepared as you keep trying to be, and that you’ll never feel fully safe inside of your own body.

Feeling like a stranger inside your own body can lead to some seriously mental and emotional vulnerability, and for me, that’s where tattooing comes in.

I’m not one of those folks who will tell you that tattoos don’t hurt – because they do – and some places on the body hurt to get tattooed more than others. Some of my tattoos were a breeze, and some had me nearly crawling off the bench. Between tattoo location, size, style, and the artist you choose, every single tattoo experience is different. I’ve seen grown adults cry whilst getting tattooed, and whereas I personally have never shed a tear, I have had my moments of thinking why do I do this to myself? Regardless, the reward is far greater than any minor suffering.

Choosing the pain that I am experiencing allows me to feel like I have some say in what goes on with my body. I am choosing this sensation. I am choosing this art. I am choosing this.

I surrender myself to this experience and I am in control.

While some studies suggest that getting tattooed can be good for your immune system, I find that getting tattooed does more for my mental health and self-image than anything else. I feel that I look great with tattoos and they boost my self-confidence. Getting tattooed also gives me something to look forward to, and when you live with chronic pain, the more you can look forward to – the better.

My tattoos tell a story and hold memories, each one pointing to a different time in my life when I was living a different experience, either a good one, bad one, or something in between.

I don’t think getting tattooed is for everyone, but I would tell everyone that hasn’t gotten one to get one, if they can. Some folks stress over what they’ll choose, or what kind of ‘meaning’ a tattoo needs to have, but I simply think that sometimes all you have to do is pick something you like and get it done. Life is short, pain is inevitable, but a cute Tamagotchi tattoo on your foot is forever.