RYL chat II

This has been about a 20, 30 minute chat as of a few minutes ago on RYL.
Mew90 is me. G and S respectively are different people.

mew90 what are the thoughts in here, of tattoos as a form of SH?
s: mmm
s: interesting
G: I think its quite possible, but not as the only form used to SH....
G: replace form with method and that makes more sense.
s: i think its possible but most people get tatoos because they liek them, not to self harm
mew90 Well
mew90 let me explain this
mew90 (sorry if this triggers)
mew90 I used to cut
mew90 like a lot
mew90 all over
mew90 and I've been free for about 3 years, which is more or less when I started getting tattoos
mew90 not to consciously replace it
s: mew have you talked to a therapist about it?
G: well, what is it that you enjoy about tattoos, mainly the pain or mainly the art?
mew90 No
mew90 Well
s: excellent question G
mew90 Most of the ones I've gotten have been because they MEAN something to me, or to sybolize something
mew90 symbolize*
mew90 and the two that I've gotten that don't mean anything I just got because I really like them
G: so you enjoy it mainly for the art?
mew90 Yes
mew90 but also, when I get them, I don;t mind the pain
mew90 and one of my mother's friends thinks I'm addicted to it and using it as a replacement
mew90 When really I just love tattoos, and love getting them, and have a lot I WANT to get
mew90 I have seven, getting number 8 tomorrow
G: I dont think it counts as SH then.. I'm the same with piercings.. I love having my ears pierced, and I love having the piercings and I just love it, but I also dont mind the pain...
mew90 and the 7th was the largest and the reason I got it was because I was upset
mew90 I had been wanting to get it done for a while
mew90 but I was really depressed
mew90 and I knew I couldn't cut
s: honestly mew, i dont hink you use them as a replacement emotionally speaking, but you could talk to a therapist just in case
mew90 so I got the tattoo
mew90 I know I don't do it as a replacement ALL the time
mew90 but I wonder if I do sometimes?
G: mew90: well, that one may have been an SH related thing... so maybe you should avoid getting tattoos when you are upset...
mew90 I had done that with a piercing once too
mew90 actually twice
mew90 I had been really upset and was like f it
s: if the pain you feel when getting the tatoo makes you forget about the emotional pain
s: then...
mew90 well it does kinda
s: you are using it as a replacement
mew90 like I don't get one everytime I want to cut
mew90 and not every piercing or tat I've gotten has been because I wanted to
mew90 I know the most recent one was
G: but sometimes you do, so on occasion you are using it as a replacement, so maybe next time you are upset, you should avoid getting the piercing or tattoo at that moment, and plan on doing it at a later date, sometimes even just having a plan to do something at a later date makes things seem a bit better...
s: mew i think its high time you talked to your therapist about it
mew90 Don't have one
s: mmmm
mew90 but even if I don't get them because I want to cut, while I'm getting them, It kind of does help me forget whatever is happening
mew90 whether good or bad
s: you need to work on better ways of coping with your emotional pain
G: mew90: Im not saying completely and totally drop piercings and tattoos, but if you are feeling upset, and like you want to cut, or anything like that, try not to go out and get a tattoo or piercing at that time...

Thought this was an interesting topic, would like to branch out more on it. If anyone has any opinions or experiences feel free to message or comment.