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would be especially concerned about Christians who are caught up in getting one tattoo after another. Is it similar to "cutting" then? Because it is painful, one wonders about someone who would painfully deface their body in order to "feel good." l used to counsel a young Christian woman who described her "cutting" as making her "feel good". She had an extensive background of being abused during her childhood and when the tensions and depressions that resulted from those experiences would mount up in her mind, she would cut herself and claimed it made her "feel good" about herself.
I agree about the dangers of "cutting", supposedly to "feel good". I must confess I don't understand the psychology/mindset of those who cut themselves, who usually are women. Maybe this is because I am male, that I don't understand?
Maybe you can empathize a little more?
Well, these are interesting insights; thank-you. You're right; it doesn't make a lot of sense; but your direct contacts with almost always female cutters do maybe give you more of a perspective here that I might have.I think the pain and misery they suffered was made worse by the feeling of total helplessness. When they cut themselves, they can feel that the pain and misery is under their control. Doesn't make a lot of sense to you or me but it apparently does to them. It is heart-breaking to counsel one of these women (and it is almost always women).
I do think, though, re. the feeling of having ink injected by a tattoo machine - which might superficially involve some pain sometimes - but which is motivated by a desire to display a Godly message in the tattoo: the feeling might be superficially similar to cutting (about which you already understand more than me), but really it's a fundamentally different feeling.
I think so, anyway. Psychologically speaking, in general terms; I don't claim to be a psychologist. (I don't suppose you are, either?)
Again, as opposed to years ago when it was overwhelmingly a man thing, now it's women who form a majority of parlor clients for receiving ink, apparently according to statistics; but in any case I do think that the feeling gained by getting a faith based tattoo (good, bad, indifferent) is really a secondary matter compared with the reason to have wrist/ankle/foot areas injected with a Scripture testimony.Yes, I can see that is true for people who are emotionally and spiritually healthy--but I would be concerned about those who are not.
Oh, that's interesting; very interesting!I do have an M.S. in counseling psychology but I find the Bible to be much more wise than any system invented by man.
So you're sure now about your left arm tattoo placement?My left arm...it is closest to my heart...lol.
Butterfly: So you didn't use a numbing agent, then?I have quite a high pain threshold. I had no fear or concern about having the tattoo.
Wasn't offered one - did not even know they had them avaliable. I have been along with my daughter when she had a tattoo done, she wasn't offered one either. I am presuming that if you have a larger tattoo that this may be offered.Butterfly: So you didn't use a numbing agent, then?
So would you recommend that other women and girls having it done for the first time try to dispense with using a numbing agent and receive it without one?
Interesting experiences for yourself and your daughter; thanks. Some tattoo artists actually don't like numbing agents, seemingly because they reckon that the pain is and ought to be all part of the experience as a test of endurance; not sure what I think of this idea. Maybe you would understand what they mean by it.Wasn't offered one - did not even know they had them avaliable. I have been along with my daughter when she had a tattoo done, she wasn't offered one either. I am presuming that if you have a larger tattoo that this may be offered.
It's personal choice, everyone knows that it's going to be painful, so I guess it's reliant on what pain a person can tolerate and how long it will take. Some people react in other ways, often blood sugar levels drop and can cause people to pass out- that's why they offer a lolly pop - pure sugar to suck while the tattoo is being done.
Rita
@1stCenturyLady Do you agree that tattooing is rather different from 'cutting' (see above posts) ?
Do you think that a tattooee - even a Christian, principled one - getting a sense of control from a faith based tattoo is always a negative thing?I think the pain and misery they suffered was made worse by the feeling of total helplessness. When they cut themselves, they can feel that the pain and misery is under their control.
Maybe you and your daughter as tattooed women both think that women as well as men ought to be pretty well regarded as tough enough not to need a numbing agent (unless the design calls for a really long sitting)?Wasn't offered one - did not even know they had them avaliable. I have been along with my daughter when she had a tattoo done, she wasn't offered one either.
I can really understand an 18 year old young Christian wanting to go to the parlor to have a Bible verse/phrase needled in; because it does work as a dialog encourager.The right messages would break the ice and invite dialog.
Nah, not me. No tattoos on my skin. I can wear scripture on a T-Shirt and I do.@tzcho2 PS: Getting a Bible related tattoo reminds me of the boldness in testimony of people such as Luther, Spurgeon, etc. :)