Healing takes strength. And this list of mental health tattoos tell the perfect stories behind the struggle of mental health illness.
Not everyone understands the struggles of people with mental health issues. Just like a normal, healthy person would not understand how asthma couldn’t breathe with so much air around. And that makes sense why mental illness patients would rather keep quiet about their problems.
That’s why mental health tattoos are bold statements. Instead of pretending to be ok, the wearers choose to be honest with their feelings. And they make others with similar struggles feel less lonely. Whether it’s about anxiety, depression, or other mental disorders, these tattoos send a clear message: mental health is health, too.
And you don’t need to be a patient to wear a mental health tattoo. Some of these tattoos are reminders to embrace your feelings. Some tell a personal story. Scroll on. And if you resonate with the following tattoos, consider them your next ink.
Disclaimer: This collection of mental health tattoos is for inspiration only. Please do not copy the artwork. If you love these tattoos, follow artists and show them some support.
Deep mental health tattoos with meaning
Don’t stop healing
This neck tattoo is the most empowering commitment one can make for herself. Of course, healing is not linear, and there may be twists and turns. But as long as you don’t give up, you will be there.
See the good
Things might not always be good. But there’s good in everything.
It’s ok
It’s ok to feel, to learn, to make mistakes and to start again. This cute tattoo leaves the blank to fill in. What’s your answer?
Open heart, open mind
Keep your mind and heart open. And you will invite good vibes and positivity to life.
Losing control – an abstract thigh tattoo
Sometimes the more you try to control everything, the less you can actually control. But when you learn to let go, you stress less. And you allow your creativity to flow. This illustrative conceptional tattoo puts the idea perfectly on the skin.
See the good – an inspiring shoulder blade tattoo
Moth represents passion and change in spiritual terms. In a world of darkness, a moth will find its way towards the light. A moth tattoo is a reminder that there’s always hope despite the struggles one is going through.
Pill of emotions
There’s no good or bad emotion. Validate your feelings.
Not okay
The beauty of white ink is that it’s only noticeable under UV light. This quote tattoo plays with both traditional and white ink. It says, “I’m ok.” But when you observe under a UV light, it becomes “I’m broken.”
It demonstrates the hidden mental struggles of the wearer, which is sadly the same thing many people experience.
Go with your heart – a creative forearm tattoo
Your instinct, your gut feelings are more powerful than you may imagine. Trusting your intuition is trusting yourself. When finding yourself overthinking or overanalyzing, why not go back to the basics and listen to your heart?
Mixed feelings
Emotions are complicated. You can feel happy and sad, confident and scared at the same time. As confusing as it can be, it’s perfectly normal. Learn to observe them and embrace them. Your feelings are part of you, too.
It’s ok to not be fine
In this ignorant style tattoo, the heart is stabbed in a dozen different spots and bleeding. But it still says, “I’m fine.” This is what people with mental diseases often do – hiding their problems and pretending to be ok.
But you can’t heal by hiding your wound. So talk about it with a professional or someone you trust. This could be the first step of your healing journey.
Be strong
Mental strength is acquired through practice. You can learn to be strong, as pointed out in this tattoo.
Embrace every side of you
Every version of you is part of you. So whether you feel good or bad now, you are being you. And there’s nothing wrong with it.
A deep tattoo that shows how it’s like to have bipolar disorder
It’s ok if you don’t always understand how your mind functions. And you don’t need to. Listen to what your mind has to tell you.
A spiral tattoo that represents the inner battle
A common misconception about mental health illness is that the healing is linear. You take pills, you go see therapists, and you are cured once and for all.
In reality, people who suffer from anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues struggle with them for a long time. The healing goes back and forth. One may feel ecstatic today but moody tomorrow.
The spiral tattoo is a great reminder that the inner batter is more challenging than how it looks from the outside. And we should never judge someone’s journey by the calmness he appears to be.
Just hanging
Depression doesn’t always translate to sadness. Sometimes it’s just numbness, not feeling sad or happy. This tattoo perfectly portrays what it’s like to be emotionally numb – you feel detached from reality, hanging, watching, but not coping.
If only there’s a button
But such button doesn’t exist. This tattoo is a great reminder to be kind to yourself during mood swings. The last thing you want to do is to blame yourself for being emotional or weak.
A tattoo to detox your brain
Mental well-being doesn’t mean feeling happy all the time. And it absolutely doesn’t equal forced positivity. When you don’t allow yourself to feel bad or unmotivated, it stops you from accepting your true self.
A small tattoo that reflects the mental struggle
For some people, “be happy” is easier said than done. Don’t blame anyone for being moody. We all have a story that we don’t tell.
“This too shall pass” – a semicolon quote tattoo
Just because you are having a bad day doesn’t mean you are having a bad life. Storms will always pass and no feelings are final. Just like the semicolon, if you choose to continue, your story will not be over yet.
Read also: 32 Meaningful semicolon tattoos for the mental health illness survivors
The brain fog
Sometimes a new idea is hidden in the fog. Let yourself be confused, be lost, and feel how you feel.
A tattoo to throw away your stress
In real life, you may not be able to throw away stress as effortlessly as shown in this tattoo. But it’s a reminder to let go of what you can’t control.
The happy pills
Focus on the good, and the good gets better.
Keep hoping on
Two crossed fingers represent the wish for good luck. If you’ve been feeling down, getting such a positive tattoo may change your mood.
The mental health bell
At first glance, the bell doesn’t seem to have anything to do with mental health awareness. But it’s now the symbol of Mental Health America that carries deep meaning.
According to the organization, asylums used to tie mental illness patients with chains and shackles. It was not until the 1950s that this cruel act was abandoned.
But today, mental health patients are still fighting with invisible chains: misunderstanding, rejections, and discrimination. The bell serves as a reminder to raise awareness for the community while caring for our own mental health.
Under the mask
You don’t need to fake a smile or pretend to be ok when you are not. Validate your feelings because they are part of you.
Don’t doubt yourself – a minimalist thigh tattoo
Self-doubts kill more dreams than failure will ever do. Learn to silence your negative self-talk and replace it with affirmations.
Read also: 29 Motivational quotes to stop doubting yourself
“How do you feel today” – a cute but meaningful tattoo
Our emotion makes us human and it’s ok to feel sad, overwhelmed or unmotivated. But your worth has nothing to do with how you feel. You are loved, capable, and strong even when you feel moody.
A smiley face to cheer you up when you need a lift
And this small finger tattoo will always smile back. Sometimes that’s all you need in a bad day.
The happy chemicals
Serotonin is one of the “happy chemicals.” It stabilizes the mood and brings joyfulness. People that suffer from anxiety or depression have a lower level of serotonin. This cute molecule tattoo may pump some extra serotonin into your body and cheer you up if you are feeling down.
A behind-the-ear dopamine tattoo
Another happy chemical is dopamine. It’s a neurotransmitter that helps us to focus and feel joyful. This small back-of-the-ear tattoo will represent your positive personality.
The overthinkers
Overthinking kills joy and creativity. Ruminating about the past or worrying about the future doesn’t change the present. Let go of what you can’t control. And focus on what you can.
Time to recharge – a simple battery tattoo
Taking a time off to recharge is productive. Honor your needs.
Healing is a process
You will probably not feel great on day 1 of your recovery process. In fact, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other mental illnesses will come back and haunt you from time to time. Healing is not linear, but time is powerful. When you look back in a week, or 6 months, you will be proud that you take the first step.
Vulnerability is the new strong
What’s the last time you cry? And why? Whether it’s over a loss or a breakup, crying has nothing to be ashamed of. We all cope with heartbreaks differently, and crying is one of many ways. Instead of bottling up, create a safe place to let your emotions out. It can be your room, nature, or someone you can trust.
A semicolon tattoo for mental health illness survivors
You are stronger than you think you are. Embrace your fighter spirit.
A bumble bee tattoo
Bees are not a common symbol of mental health. But bee tattoos can carry different meanings and stories. The wings of a bee are relatively small compared to the body.
But they are still able to beat 230 times per second and create enough lift to fly. It is proof that no matter how small we deem ourselves to be, we should never undermine our strength.
Love is not always the answer
If love has hurt you badly, it’s ok to not want it in your life now. Give yourself time and space to heal.
Semicolon tattoo for the tough soul
Small tattoos can be empowering. This “still here” wrist tattoo is a badge of honor for mental illness survivors.
Self-love is the best love – a feminine forearm tattoo
This gorgeous abstract tattoo is the best self-love reminder. You can be a million things: crazy, silly, creative, and amazing at the same time. Beauty is not about pretending to be someone else. It’s about finding your authentic self and let your qualities shine through.
Butterflies on the inner arm
Butterfly tattoos have various meanings. In couple tattoos, the butterfly is often seen as a symbol of compatibility. Individually, butterflies stand for rebirth and strength.
Born as a caterpillar, a butterfly must go through radical transformations to fly. It’s a reminder that storms will pass, and it will make us stronger.
Not dealing frog tattoo
Because you don’t need to solve all your problems in one day.
You don’t know my story
Not every chapter of life is read out loud. If you know someone struggling, support them with acceptance and kindness.
The cloudy mind
Sometimes the worst place you can be is in your head.
No feeling is final
No one is alone in the fight against mental illness. If the pain isn’t going away, talk to a therapist, or find treatments that work for you. Seeking help is the beginning of taking your strength back.
The struggle that is never told
You may feel like you are in a black hole, and no one understands your pain. But you are not the only one. Expressive mental health tattoos like this connect people together and make each one feel less alone.
Social media overload
What you see on social media is not always real. This black and grey tattoo shows how much pressure social media has put on us. If you are stressed with the unrealistic standards pushed by social platforms, maybe it’s a good idea to unfollow and uninstall.
Speak your mind
Love, unfortunately, is not always what keeps us in a relationship. Sometimes it can be the fear of not meeting someone better, or that we will break someone’s heart. If a relationship doesn’t spark joy or inspire growth, it is not healthy for neither of you. It’s your responsibility to trust your feelings and cut off what no longer serves you.
A quote tattoo for overthinkers
Read also: 42 Overthinker quotes that are too relatable
It’s all in your head
Time to exit
Sometimes you don’t need more to fix your problems. You need less: less toxic people, less self-blaming, less rumination…This small button tattoo may help you to end a downward spiral.
Always see the good in every day
Sometimes you are one decision away from living a better life. And that decision can be just believing today is a good day. What you believe, you manifest.
Read also: 44 Encouragement quotes to cheer yourself or someone up
Why the blue – a beautiful script tattoo
Be brave
If you can’t beat fear, do it scared.
Seize the day
Carpe diem means “seize the day” in Latin. It reflects the wearer’s life philosophy to live in the moment. This quote tattoo on the side of neck is not only a beautiful ornament but also a powerful message.
You are not lost
The worst thing one can be is to have everything figured out early in his life. Explore, make mistakes, go on adventures. If you don’t leave the old paths, you’ll never know what else is awaiting ahead.
A deep poetry tattoo
Source unknown
You are stronger than you think you are.
Different and beautiful
If you feel like you are not fitting in, you are probably standing out. The things that make you weird are the same things that make you special.
Which of these mental health tattoos resonates with you?
Share your thoughts in the comment. If you have a tattoo that raises mental health awareness, tag us @_ourmindfullife on Instagram to get featured!