So after 5 1/2 years of sobriety and deliberating the idea of it for the same length of time, I’ve decided to get a sobriety tattoo. Although I haven’t experienced a death or other major traumatic experience since being sober, I feel like I’m mentally strong enough to not relapse under any circumstance. I’ve come up with a couple ideas for what I want it to look like and I’ve picked out the shop I’m going to. Location will be on my right side rib cage, because thats one of(if not the most) the most painful spots to tattoo. So let’s see them, who’s got one? Have you relapsed since getting it? What is everyone’s thoughts on them?
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I got a self care/self love tattoo on my first anniversary, it’s my totem animal, the wild boar. So far, no relapse and I don’t regret it.
Also I have a rib cage tattoo and it wasn’t painful 
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I have one! But not my sobriary date. I doubted a long time but choose something else that represents the same for me. I was sober for 5 years before and then relapsed. So no date for me. But still sober since the day 1 of my second try 2,5 years ago. And very happy with the ink
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Yup I got one for my year tattoo and relapsed now I’m stuck with this how awesome
Lol. Just means you need to get that year back
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My sobriety tattoo is more about my life path and growth. I’m not quite the blooming lotus flower but I feel like I’m getting there…at least I’m out of the back and forth chaos.
This is when it was first done so it’s not pink anymore…fully black and while.
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That’s the reason I didn’t do it earlier. I felt very vulnerable the first 2 years, more so the first.
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It wasn’t painful because you have a high threshold or because it’s just not painful? You’ll make me rethink my placement.
Not sure! If it helps, my bf got a matching one at the same place and almost cried. 
Maybe I was just lucky and nerves weren’t bothered. I hope for you it smarts!
I have loads of ink on different places. The most painfull places where my spine and ribs. But it’s doable. The most painful thing I ever did was getting my babies, but I guess you are a man so that’s not an option? 
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Yeah definitely not
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I’m obsessed with numbers and my sobriety date adds up to 13…so I’d look into some kind of Pythagorean geometry sort of thing 
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I had this one done
12 steps and 12 is also my cleandate.
The steps helped me make sense of my life as is.
The quality of the tat isn’t what i expected thats a bit of a shame but my steps will always walk my path 
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I’m actually loving this 
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We are not confirmed in sobriety. Maybe will be better a tattoo which represents all this time sober, like: one day at a time
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Oh 100% agree with you! I had 10 yrs and relapsed, no amount of sober time under your belt is a guarantee that you will remain sober 
Love seeing everyone’s tattoo’s of their sobriety/journey so far!
And Thomas my friend, it’s good to ‘see’ another familiar face since I’ve rejoined x
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I got my tattoo only a couple months in after I was sober (the first time I quit) over 2 years ago. I was sober for 7 months then relapsed and kept drinking for another 17 months. During that span of time I drank daily and only quit one time for about a month, but then went back to drinking, again.
I really like tattoos and had been wanting to get another (have one other one) anyway so I went for it. The one I got was of a phoenix signifying that from the ashes of failure and despair I can and will find the strength within to rise again and to soar, achieving whatever it may be that I set my sight on. It has mostly to do with quitting drinking, but it also is about finding my inner strength in all things. If I slip up and fail, it is not the end as life is a continuous journey, not a destination. There will be failures and successes, happiness and sorrow. My tattoo reminds I am more than capable to change my life and that no one else can or will be able to do that for me.
I’ve yoyo’ed with my weight due to my excessive drinking when I use to hold steadying anywhere between 100-110 lbs my entire life… my highest recorded weight was nearly 152 lbs but am sure I was more than that (I’m 46 and 5’ 4")… weighing more from drinking than I ever was when I was pregnant with my 2 children a long time ago.
I’m now just over 6 months sober (second time around) and have lost over 30 lbs (in 5+ months time… THANK YOU PELOTON!), but I still have about 9 more pounds to go to reach my goal.
This pic was taken just after I had it touched up about a 10 or so months after I initially had it done.
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That is such an amazing piece of art!!
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