Getting inked is considered a rite of passage, a form of expression, even the mark of a rebel. However, incase of some, it may also be a clarion call for help. Psychiatrists and counsellors report seeing patients seeking therapy for addiction to the high following a tattoo, which brings them back to the tattoo parlour repeatedly wanting more.
Recently, DNA met one of these “tattoo addicts”, who recognised she needed help. A 23-year-old media professional, who wished not to be named, had acquired about a dozen tattoos in four years. What started out as an exhilarating outlet for rebellion turned into an obsession, she tells us. “That’s when I decided to opt for counselling,” she says.
