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POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal Reviews

Feel Sick and Depressed Due to New Tattoos! - Melbourne, AU

UPDATED FROM animalspirit

Healed

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animalspiritOctober 3, 2016
Keeping them for now, still not happy with one but have grown to like the other. Planning to add to them.

Replies (4)

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mtenter
October 4, 2016
I think that's an intelligent decision. They are beautiful tattoos in my opinion, but nobody's opinion should matter but your own. Keep us updated if/when you add more!
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Eva G
October 5, 2016

I second mtenter's comment! Tattoos are a shock at first, but you really can grow to love them. I would love for you to kick off the conversation in the following forum post: Love It or Laser It?

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Fun with lasers
October 12, 2016
They are cute and well done. I would keep both for sure:)
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loralee12345
July 30, 2017
Did you keep them?
ORIGINAL POST

I'm 27 and got 2 new tattoos a few days ago and...

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animalspiritJune 26, 2016
I'm 27 and got 2 new tattoos a few days ago and ever since I have been crying on and off, feel sick,depressed, loss of appetite and bad anxiety. I just want them gone! I want to turn back the clock and not get them. I seriously feels like a bad dream. The tattoos were planned, I got a tattoo of a fox and of a wolf. I did my research & tried to find the best artist,paid a small fortune. What I originally wanted was a fox and a wolf jumping in a circle about 3 inches in total size on my inner forearm..so pretty small. I had a picture of the exact fox I wanted but sent a lot of wolf pics to the artist and tried to explain what I wanted him to create. He didn't get back to me dispite my efforts untill 12 hours before I was due to be tattooed,and I didn't like his design for the wolf and I ended up picking a completely different wolf picture and decided if I didn't like it in the morning I would just get the fox tattoo. So I get there and he tells me having the fox horizontal on my arm like I wanted it would look bad so he talks me into having it the other way, he then made it double the size because if I was going to get the wolf on the other arm like he suggested then I'd want them to match in size. He made the wolf then larger than I had imagined too to cover some old scars which actually now look worse and more obvious when he told me it would look better! I felt like I was put on the spot for every decision and every time I said I wasn't sure I was talked into something. I wish I had got up and left and thought about it. I know at the end of the day I agreed and it's all my fault. I love tattoos on other people,strongly influenced by social media and Instagram and love all the tattoos I see and thought I would love these.What I didn't anticipate was maybe I love tattoos on other people but not on myself!!!! My partner doesn't like tattoos and told me not to get any more which adds to my guilt and feeling ugly. I already had one tattoo but it was just writing and hidden on my body and it never bothered me. Whenever I look down now I see these large dark things on my forearms and feel sick when I look at my body in the shower and the mirror. I know some of this is irrational because the tattoos are 5 inches by 3 inches roughly,but to me it looks huge and dark and I'm praying this feeling goes away or I'm going to have to get lazer which I can't afford. I've been researching ways to change the tattoos so I like them more but don't want to risk hating them more, aswell as removal creams. The tattoos them self are quite good, I don't dislike them because they are bad tattoos,and you'd hope they are good quality for what I paid, they just don't feel like me! And they are too big and dark.It's so hard to explain. On top of that my partner and I aren't well off and I feel extreme guilt in spending money on something I hate and don't want when it should have gone towards our holiday which we are getting into more debt to go on. I feel so stupid. Why did I do this why!!!! Honestly so depressed. I just literally feel sick and want them gone. I was actually happy for the first time in ages planning my first trip away ever to Thailand with my partner we are supposed to go in a few weeks and I'm no longer excited. I feel ugly. Anyone got a time machine? My brains so scattered right now I can't even think straight, overwhelmed. Will I ever like them? How long should I wait before I decide to get lazer?

Replies (4)

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mrsdestiny
June 27, 2016
These are beautiful! I know the feeling of hating a new tattoo though. I recently got my third tattoo which turned out way, way bigger than I wanted it. At first I was freaking out, crying, not eating etc. It's been about a week and I'm starting to like my tattoo now! I'm waiting til September to decide whether I want to just finish the tattoo, or get laser. I suggest you do the same, let them heal, and figure out what to do from there. :)
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animalspirit
June 28, 2016
I'm so glad to hear that you are starting to like your tattoo, I'm praying I grow to like mine as this is a horrible feeling. Yeah I want to wait too only because I don't trust myself to make good decisions anymore, I don't want to start laser and then regret that too even though I would love to take action now. Thanks for responding. I'm glad you think they are nice, I don't like them on my body but I'd probably like them on someone else.
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CicelyAlaska
June 28, 2016
Hello, oh my gosh I love your tattoos! Honestly, they’re lovely. Don't feel bad for any reason for getting them, it's important to express yourself and you obviously wanted them, don't forget that! I had the same experience, honestly the SAME with 2 tattoo artists! Designs were bigger than expected and not what I envisioned at all. I've freaked out over all my tattoos. It's a really big adjustment and you don't feel like yourself. Even if you love or hate them, it's weird to start with. You might find they grow on you and because they are so new, they've changed you and that feels uncomfortable. I think you might be stressing more than usual because like me they were bigger than planned? I hated that part of mine because I wasn’t prepared for it. My tattoo is in the same spot as yours and I hated mine the minute I left the tattoo parlour. I've been wearing long sleeves for ever and my piece of advice would be if you get to the stage where you never want your tattoos to be seen then remove them. I’ve been getting mine removed and unfortunately it's taking a while. If you’re comfortable show them to a few people close to you and see what they think. My sister and best friend both said “yeah it’s not you”. Yours though are gorgeous and from me to you, I'd honestly be showing yours off! They're beautiful and I think something so beautiful has to be right! But at the end of the day, they’re just tattoos and you can get them removed if you want (do your research on places  ). I know it's easier said than done but I learnt not to stress about it because it’s done now. It’s happened. You can remove them or keep them and you’ll be ok either way. Keep us updated and don’t let it get you down. I wanted to write this to you because it’s my story too and it really isn’t worth the anxiety and sadness, I know firsthand. You’re just now one of hip girls who has 2 awesome tattoos who will now look even cooler on Instagram! Just won them and you’ll rock it. Hope you love them in time, I know I would, they’re awesome!
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animalspirit
June 28, 2016
Thank-you for responding and sharing your story, and thank you for saying that you like them. It's hard, I feel less attractive and womanly, it's so odd. I'm still hoping with time my feelings change but currently it just feels like I have made a huge mistake and is quite emotionally draining.
I showed my best friend tonight and she really likes them. They just feel so alien to me.
I'm going to try and wait it out a few months because I don't want to make ANOTHER permanent mistake. Currently I am thinking about laser but I'm scared that I won't be able to remove the whole thing completely. Do you know is complete removal possible?
I wish they were smaller for sure especially the wolf.
I just don't want to make another mistake. I hate feeling like this. I would never get another tattoo now no matter how sure I thought I was. Thank you for your kind words.
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CicelyAlaska
June 28, 2016
I felt the same, - less feminine and butch. It's because you're not confident about them and don't love them, yet. It's weird to see some huge black thing on your arm . Would be different if it was on your back or somewhere more less seen. I think if you decide to laser off it can't be a mistake cause you obviously would have put the thought into the decision. Yes it's possible to permanently remove. I've had 2 removed and have very minimal marks left. How long have you had them for?
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CicelyAlaska
June 28, 2016
Oh sorry just re read you got it a few days ago. I think because it's not that you hate your tattoos more that you don't know if you want them or if you suit them that you've probably got more of a chance of liking them. I knew straight away I hated mine! It does take time to get used to them but don't convince yourself you've made the wrong decision or not to trust yourself.
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animalspirit
June 29, 2016
I'm going to try and give it a few months but leaning towards removal of atleast one at the moment. It's hard to focus on other stuff when you hate something on yourself.
How long did it take you to remove yours?
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CicelyAlaska
June 30, 2016
I had 4 in all removed/in the process of removal. 1 decent sized one only needed 3 goes. But sad to say my big black one on my arm and another which I had done 2 years ago has faded but still very much close to its original state. :( I've been told there's no reason as to why. I'm going to a place which is reputable and thank goodness after 5 visits, it's free until completely removed. That's why if you choose to laser, do your research on types of lasers and clinics. Happy to help you with advice if needed.
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rae.88
June 28, 2016
Hi! I just wanted to say i identified so much with your story, i also got tattoos on my arms that i know regret immensely, although i wanted them before... I'm sorry you're feeling so bad about them, I know the feeling of wanting it to go away and just having to be reminded of them everytime i look down... I hope you can enjoy your trip with your partner though, we need to believe this is just another lesson in our path that we have to learn from... I still believe that everything happens for a reason, i just hope i get to the point that i know why this happened and can accept it. Good luck!
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animalspirit
June 29, 2016
Hey, thanks for replying.
How long ago did you get your tattoos?
Do you still dislike them?
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Eva G
June 28, 2016

I don't have a time machine, but I hopefully can help you put things into perspective. First off, I'm truly sorry you are going through this and I thank you for having the courage to openly share your story with the community. Here, you will connect with others in the same boat sailing through different waters -- at the beginning of your journey it's pretty rough, and you get caught in a destructive current of negative thoughts, it takes a little work to get your mind off of your tattoos so you can start to paddle forward, but in time you will, and it will be smooth sailing. How do I know this? Well, because I have been there too, and I have also been in this community for a long time and I have seen many people make it through this just fine regardless of the decision they made about either removing or keeping their tattoo(s). 

So how do you put this all into perspective and move on, well, there is only one way to say this...you have to get out of your own way. The very first thing I encourage you to do is to stop calling yourself stupid, you are not stupid and your tattoos don't make you ugly and they most certainly don't define who you are -- they are just on your skin and you are not happy with them. So take a step back, and look at this situation from the perspective of another person. What would you tell somebody in your situation? By doing this we broaden our own personal view of the situation and we suddenly become more aware of what's going on and the consequences that can arise if the situation continues to spiral out of control. 

You have a wonderful trip coming up, focus on that. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on seeing Thailand. I was recently there for one month and I never wanted to leave --  you will love it! I digress, I missed out on a trip during my months of depression over my tattoo regret, I was supposed to go to Costa Rica with the family and I just couldn't get myself to go, so we canceled. Do you know how bad I feel about that? Arg, if I could hop on that time machine that we both wish existed in times such as this, then I would get on it and go change how I dealt with the situation, I don't even think I would change the fact I got a tattoo because I learned so much from that situation, as rae.88 says "we need to believe this is just another lesson in our path that we have to learn from." Those are some very wise words. 

My heart goes out to you, every single time I read a new story about a new tattoo that leaves somebody feeling sick, anxious and depressed, it makes me so sad. Because I know that a tattoo that you don't like right now isn't worth living in misery and allowing that misery to control your life. Let it go, and you will see -- everything will work out. 

I leave you with this video that I watched over and over because she is so darn inspiring, please have a look: Kathryn Schulz Shares Her Story of Tattoo Regret

Now, chin up! Get out there and enjoy your life! 

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animalspirit
June 29, 2016
Thanks you for your words of wisdom. The video was great too.
Deffinately true how the stages of regret work and what goes through your head.
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