10 Years Later: Eating Disorder Recovery Tattoo Pros & Cons
Ten years ago, I took a ride on the green line in search of a little tattoo parlor tucked in the corner of North Brookline. It’s walls were covered in drawings and memorabilia, and as I shook the hand of a man wearing long black sleeves and pants in the middle of the summer heat, I could hardly contain my excitement:
I was getting my recovery tattoo!
Flash forward to today, and the concept of getting an eating disorder recovery tattoo is still going strong. If you’re considering joining the crew, here’s a list of pros and cons to consider:
Pro: It’s permanent.
Because they’re permanent, recovery tattoos one way to seriously hold yourself accountable to committing. If you keep finding yourself on the fence about recovery, having a permanent, physical reminder of your convictions really can serve as an anchor when you’re feeling unmoored and unsure.
Con: It’s permanent.
Let’s be real: there are many ways to remind yourself of your commitment to recovery that can be equally as special (and not equally as permanent). There have been times when I wish I could’ve just opted for a beautiful promise ring instead of permanently etching something onto my body (lookin’ at you, wedding photos).
Pro: It’s a great conversational piece.
I can’t tell you how many comrades I’ve made in recovery just because people have asked me about my tattoo. You’d be shocked by how many women you’re surrounded with that are struggling with the same thing as you. Recovery tattoos are one way to signal you’re on their side, and to make friendships that could potentially benefit the both of you.
Con: Everybody’s doing it.
Okay - maybe you’re not like me where you feel the need to rebel against the grain with trends a little, but maybe you are, and if you ARE, this con is for you. Everyone has a tattoo these days. Seriously. Your barista, the stock broker that passed you on the sidewalk, every sorority girl in college, and the guy who made your pizza last Friday night all have one thing in common: tattoos. If it bothers you to be a part of the crowd: don’t do it!
Pro: It gives you a sense of stability.
Recovery is a long, hard road of ups and downs that last well beyond the point of being pronounced “physically recovered.” Having something there to remind you of a promise you made to yourself can go a long way. And in turn, having something to remind you of how far you’ve come can be pretty cool, too.
Con: It’s expensive.
Look, bottom line: tattoos are expensive. And I’m willing to bet that if you’re in the midst of recovery, you haven’t spent much money on joy in a while. Yes, a tattoo might be meaningful to you, but maybe you deserve something more. What if, instead of spending your money on another eating-disorder-themed purchase, you spent it on something that brought you closer to being YOU (you know… minus the disordered eating taking over your life). Go to a pottery class, invest in learning an instrument you’ve been neglecting, learn a language, get a paint set. Recovery is as much about “doing the work” as it is about finding yourself.
In the end, choosing to get an eating disorder recovery tattoo is a super personal choice that only you can make. I, for one, don’t regret getting mine. BUT, getting a tattoo didn’t automatically save me from years of struggling, either.
I stand to wonder what would have been different had I stopped focusing so much on who I wanted to get away from being, and instead thought more about who I dreamed of becoming.
Don’t forget - whatever choice you make - that you have what it takes to make it through this, tattoo or not.
I’m rooting for you.
💌 📣
Maria
