[thesnowqueen]

Hi all. I was wondering if any of you who have lost a loved one have had any kind of memorial tattoo, or what other ways you have found to cope with the loss? What has helped; what hasn't?

[BrazenApogee]

My best friend got a memorial tattoo. It is his first tattoo. He liked the process.
Another friend got a tattoo to help her get out of depression, she said it helped her too.
I don't have any yet.

[Sabrina]

I got my second tattoo when Amy (my almost 11 year old chihuahua) died. She was everything to me. I had a little chihuahua with an infinity sign underneath tattooed on my wrist. It has really helped me and I look at it in fondness everyday. I miss her so very much.

[thesnowqueen]

Sabrina, that's a really beautiful tribute. So much simpler with animals - they adore you and you adore them back. I keep telling myself my four-legged baby is immortal...

Originally Posted by thesnowqueen

Sabrina, that's a really beautiful tribute. So much simpler with animals - they adore you and you adore them back. I keep telling myself my four-legged baby is immortal...

Alas, that's not the case. My furbaby (one of my guinea pigs) died today (technically yesterday now). They just love unconditionally so I know how hard it is to lose a pet.

[Sula B]

I know quite a few people with memorial tattoos of various things - some are pictures, some are the name or dates or other symbols, phrases or words that represent them. The common factor is that it seems to be part of the process of grief, helping the person grieving to feel a connection or closeness to the person they have lost, a connection that is permanent and immovable. For the most part I think it helps from my observation.

[thesnowqueen]

The artist I wanted can only do it in a YEAR. I did book and leave a deposit but am drawing on myself in the mean time. Not sure how else to cope

[Sula B]

Originally Posted by thesnowqueen

The artist I wanted can only do it in a YEAR. I did book and leave a deposit but am drawing on myself in the mean time. Not sure how else to cope

Make sure you do your research - there are very few tattoo artists who have real skill - not only artistic skill - when you're wanting a memorial tattoo you want someone who can empathise and understand the outcome you want. If you get the wrong person you have to live with that thing forever and if it is a connection to someone you love you don't want that confusion of feeling towards the 'art'. Best of luck and I hope everything turns out exactly as you envisage.