Tattoo: How Ink Helps Survivors of Sexual Assault to Heal

Maxwell, a Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Arlington, spoke to 10 survivors of sexual assault of their tattoos and found they had "very different" reasons from the general population .

The participants had their first tattoos between 11 and 29 years old and had an average of three tattoos. Some acquired their first body art after their assault.

Cathar experiences

"Sexual assault is an attack on your body," said Maxwell. But by marking their skin in their own way, people are able to redefine their relationship with their bodies.

It's a "cathartic experience," she said, and some people in her study did not realize how much pain they felt before choosing an art that made sense for them and designed to symbolize their experience.

The recovery of their bodies also allows people to "get rid of their victim identity and become a survivor," said Maxwell.

Barefoot was inspired by Lady Gaga's performance in 2016 and said the pink tattoo on fire gave her "power" over her own story. "I'm proud to be a survivor," said the 22-year-old from Pittsburgh.

Maxwell added that it was important to change victims' perceptions to turn them into survivors.

Many survivors turn to tattoos to help them overcome the trauma because they see it as an alternative healing method.

Maxwell likens this to traditional art therapy, in which people have to draw something in relation to what they feel and engage with their experiences in this way.

But unlike art therapy, "many participants explained how much pain was part of [healing] process, "said Maxwell.-Similar to meditation, the physical pain of the needle will require people to" be present in the moment; they can not avoid their thoughts. "People also need to focus on their breathing, such as during a marathon or a physical exercise class – the two methods often used to treat trauma," she added. This helps them slow down and think about their pain how to cope with it.

Adamson, who wears "unbreakable" and "survivor" tattoos, nodded: "Therapy helps sometimes, and sometimes not." It depends largely on the therapist and his understanding. In her case, she felt that the therapy was not helpful. Instead, she focused on accepting the experience in her own way. "Putting it in ink, on your body, for me, is the best way to drop some of it," she said.

Last year, Adamson had a violent sexual and physical relationship, after which she had a right wrist bow to symbolize "being kept together."

Adamson added that she thinks it's important that people do not hide behind what has happened to them. She decided to tell her story by wanting people to know "it's good for others to know what happened".

According to Maxwell, it's not uncommon to think that therapy does not help. It can be difficult to find a therapist specializing in the treatment of sexual assault, especially if you are looking for a therapist.

The women in her study felt stigmatized because they were survivors of sexual assault and because of their body designs. Some felt uncomfortable going to see a traditional therapist because of these stigmas.

That's what pushed some sexual assault survivors to look for alternative healing methods – like tattooing, writes Maxwell's study.

The methods of adaptation are "tools in a toolbox"

During an attack, the instinct of fighting, flight or freezing takes over, explained Anne McKechnie, clinical and forensic psychologist and consultant based in Glasgow, Scotland. Once the immediate threat is gone, "the information needs to be assimilated into the memory banks," said McKechnie.

During this period of assimilation, it is normal to feel distressed or agitated, to have trouble sleeping and to have intrusive thoughts or to completely avoid the incident, she said. "The brain basically adapts to this new information and begins to understand it," according to McKechnie, who did not participate in Maxwell's research.

A person's response to an assault may also depend on the fact that she has been repeatedly assaulted or by things like the adversity of her childhood, she added.

"When we find meaning to something that has happened to us, we can move forward and create a memory, it could hurt a little when we go there, but in fact, it's something we can live with. much, "explained McKechnie.

That's where the tattoos come in. If the survivors are a way to regain control and accept that what happened is not their fault, they can be beneficial, she I said.

Barefoot said that her "survivor" tattoo had helped her not to be ashamed. "It's a reminder that I'm not broken or stained by abuse."

Along with the therapy, his body art was one of the mechanisms of adaptation. Barefoot was also motivated to get tattooed to start a conversation. "I want to educate people about sexual assault," she said, "how it changes people's lives and can almost destroy them."

Barefoot explained that she was comfortable telling her story because "if only one victim sees this, is able to start her own healing process and get help." "she knows that she took" the right decision ".

But in the absence of other coping mechanisms, a tattoo will not solve the problem, McKechnie said. "We should never, ever, aim to have a single way to cope.We must see how to cope as a variety of tools in a toolbox."

Another concern is that people might see tattooing as a distraction. "As you face physical pain, your brain is not doing this memory processing that it has to do" to be able to move on, she said.

Maxwell agrees that trauma treatment with tattoos should be consistent with other treatments. She added that tattoos risk becoming maladaptive: unnecessary behaviors that prevent people from adapting well. "You can not get a tattoo every time you treat something," she added.

Barefoot likes the fact that his body art gives him the opportunity to educate people. When someone's gaze lands on his tattoo, it opens up a discussion of the meaning and allows him to "open people's eyes" on the subject of sexual assault.

"I'm proud to be a survivor and I'm proud to be able to educate others and engage in a conversation with this tattoo."