[HALLIEBETH87]

I have many things I have done I regret....as a result of the mood I was in at the time.
Before diagnosed I started with the tattoos in '06. I was diagnosed in '08. Since 2006 I have gotten 5 tattoos when I am depressed...got them all touched for extra relief.
Got many many many piercings in 2007 when manic. Not saying I regret all of them but feel stupid. I used my credit card for all of ink and steel and different jewelry for them. Now I have two wrist tattoos I have to hide.

[madisgram]

we all have regrets and sadly what's done is done. but the flip side is that you don't have to go there again and what will remind you are the tats you now have! mania has created havoc in all our lives that are bipolar. it has a mind of it's own. when i was manic everything seemed so clear that my decision was a good thing. NOT.
now i try to live in today cause it's really all i've got since i can't change yesterday and don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. when i start to ruminate on past regrets i just say, "NEXT!" ..meaning stop that thought and rejoin the "now."
best not to beat yourself up on this. it will not get rid of the tats and all it's going to do is burn up good energy!

[St. John Wort]

HALLIEBETH87

We all have regrets. I think there is a lot of people here who can honestly sympathize with your situation. I have a tattoo on my hand that I gave myself and it is the source of many regrets also. I cant hide mine. Most people w/tattoos that I know have to hide them for work anyways.

I hope things look up for you and you learn to love your tattoos.

[adamsgirl]

I can really relate. I have a tattoo that i got in a manic phase and it is a constant reminder of how sick I was. Have you looked into having them removed? Is that an option for u? I know that it is expensive. If not you'll just accept your tats and move on. Good Luck.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I got a lot of things (ink and steel) when I wasn't stable. 2 of the tattoos are on my wrist.

[phlashback]

Regrets are a part of all of our lives. I live with many, but *try* and look at each regret as a lesson. We can not change who we have been, but we can change how we go forward.

I spent money that I did not have (a lot of money). I wasted years self medicating. I watched friends go to prison for drugs and knew it could ( and maybe should) have been me. I didn't stop a friend when I knew that the drugs were likely going to take him. I planned my own end. Most of all I regret quitting before I even began.

Each and every one of us can be saved, as we are worth it. Get the help you need, we will listen.

This week I had yet another deep low. Aside from talking here, I have found my self listing to a particular song I remember from one of my darkest times.
------
"Sunny Hours" by the Long Beach Dub Allstars
excerpt:
Well I've strolled across some dance floors filled with girls all dressed in red
Pulled my foot from my mouth answered back to things I've said
Wandered through the valley of the shadow of the dead
Stumbled round this old sundial, there these words I read
I've only got the sunny hours, brightest hours of day
I never count the gloomy hours, I let them slip away
And I realize I'm away
------

I never had really thought about the message, but the song has always made me feel better. Having now actually read the music I know why.

Remeber that it is just ink and steel. I will not discount the pain that it causes you, but it could be far worse.

Give yourself a hug, sounds like you need it!

[littlemisszombie]

Originally Posted by St. John Wort

HALLIEBETH87

We all have regrets. I think there is a lot of people here who can honestly sympathize with your situation. I have a tattoo on my hand that I gave myself and it is the source of many regrets also. I cant hide mine. Most people w/tattoos that I know have to hide them for work anyways.

I hope things look up for you and you learn to love your tattoos.

i am worried,because my hubby likes tats. i have bipolar 2, and recently been diagnosed with anorexia, he has adhd, and recently been diagnosed as having bipolar 1 on top of that. well, im worried, because he wants a tat on his neck. not a small one, a huge one. i was diagnosed with my bipolar 8 years ago, and he is still in the throws of learning about his own 'cycles' of mania etc. he has been very irrational and sometimes violent and only recently has he calmed down a bit, but he is adamant about this tattoo. it is only that we cant afford it that is stopping him from getting it. im worried that he will blow a load of money on it,and regret it; and plus we have two children. we have had a lot of stressful stuff to contend with recently, and even though im not the kind of person to put my foot down and tell him he cant, i dont know, i guess i will just have to wait until the deed is done and handle the fall out. can anyone give me advice. i know how to handle my own bipolar, but can anyone direct me where to go for help coping with his too.

[romanjames2004]

LOL don't worry. I have a ton of past regrets that would make any one see me as out of control lol. e\Especially because they were all before I was 18. I mean I was arrested and a bunch of other stuff I would never really think of doing again. Just ralize that here there are people who know what your going thorough and we all care. The best thing to to is just let it go. You are better now. belive me all my informtaion was leaked and everyone in my school kknew about everything I did. i just let it go.