Many add other meaningful things like butterflies, compasses, flowers and favorite twelve step sayings. Recovery symbols can help people still struggling with addiction by reminding them that they aren’t alone in their fight against addiction. The recovery symbol is an important reminder that many others are also going through this experience and will be there for them during their journey of recovery. Everyone with a recovery tattoo has their own story behind its meaning, and they have their own story about their struggle with the disease of addiction. For some people in recovery, getting a tattoo is a way of taking back control of their body and doing something to it that isn’t deadly. Warning If you are visiting r/tattoos for the first time, or visiting from r/all, please be aware of ALL of the rules in the sidebar and stickied threads before posting.

• After all, a semicolon will appear in a sentence that a writer could have easily ended; and yet, they chose not to do so.
• If you’ve got some room to spare, the serenity prayer is probably one of the best-known symbols of recovery.
• After all, when recovering from addiction, this process often involves staying strong through periods of darkness and despair in order to eventually feel the light on the other side.
• Do not be discouraged if you, or someone you know, have not yet found the full recovery from a tattoo addiction you are looking for!
• While examined from many angles, no one can lay out a set criteria for defining and measuring what “success” really is.

I have already had a rather crazy twisty turny journey since that moment and walking out that door. Not sure what I will go for but I think the perfect idea will come to me, it will probably include a dandelion. I’ve been thinking for a long time about getting a vine of morning glories on my back to represent appreciating the beautiful things I have while I have them. Morning glories are gorgeous but bloom very briefly, so they are often used to symbolize mortality.

Addiction Treatment Options

I already have a phoenix but not in colour it is a black line drawing that blends with the generally tribal but soft curvy lines ones I already have. I put my guiding star to remind me to be true to myself on my lower back so no wonder I kept forgetting its message . My other little ones aren’t quite so deep but have specific memories. When I first left the ex I was drifting towards a dandelion. Childhood wishes blowing off the seeds, a certain freedom and new life symbolized in the seeds floating off. That Dandelions have such strong roots and can grow and thrive almost anywhere.

One of the most important things to consider when deciding on this type of tattoo is how visible you want it to be to others. Would you prefer that this to be a private moment you are commemorating for yourself? Or, are you comfortable discussing your recovery? That’s really the only limit to how much skin you can cover with your recovery tattoo.

Expressing Yourself Through Ink

Furthermore, this particular symbol may be especially intriguing for those in early recovery, as they continue to choose to walk the path to sobriety one step at a time. Of course, other birds are also popular alcohol recovery tattoos options for symbolizing addiction recovery. This is because, like the butterfly, the majestic image of a bird taking flight captures the essence of serenity, peace, and freedom we seek during recovery.

First it must be understood that this number (2%) has its faults since the flaws of anonymity make it almost impossible for solid research to be done in the field of substance treatment. Second, this number only speaks to those who have completed treatment, which doesn’t guarantee success in sobriety. The completion of treatment doesn’t mean that one will not backslide once out of the treatment setting. The opposite is also true since those who do not complete treatment are not ensured to avoid success in sobriety moving forward. A bird flying from it’s cage is a poignant symbol that so many addicts in recovery can relate to.