Addictions

          Addicting. That’s a word that’s been used plenty of times by both numerous family members and friends that have tattoos. I’ve been told “it’s hard to get just one” or “once you start, you can’t stop”. For someone without a tattoo and is interested in getting one, I decided to do some research. What I found is that there are both physiological and psychological reasons why some people insist on getting multiple tattoos even though it’s painful.

            It’s been said that tattoos are painful. It is exactly that pain that causes the body’s sympathetic nervoussystem, the part responsible for triggering the fight-or-flight response, to release adrenaline to the body (15 Reasons). This adrenaline rush from tattoos gives adrenaline junkies such a “high” that it becomes addicting. Pain from tattoos not only causes the body to release adrenaline but causes the brain to release endorphins as well. This is another chemical that acts as a natural high and is associated with other activities like exercise and sex (15 Reasons). Not only do endorphins make some people feel good, they also sometimes relieve stress making tattoos relaxing for others (Quirk).

            Tattoos also trigger different feelings for different people. There are those who get a sense of freedom, people who see tattoos as art that they want tattooed on them as a form of self-expression. Many people get their tattoos custom drawn and choose tattoos that hold some sort of meaning. There is also the feeling of rebellion, people who get tattoos to prove that they are in control of their own body. Others do it to feel like they belong, whether it be in a group, with someone, or just in their own generation. To others, it may even be a collection, a passion, the need to acquire as many tattoos as possible.

            There are many possible reasons as to why people get multiple tattoos. I kind of understand how both the body’s chemical reactions and the various feelings that come from tattoos could cause addictions. It would be interesting to see how it would make me feel when I finally manage to gain the courage to get my first tattoo and I wonder if I would get “addicted”.

"15 Reasons Someone Could Become Addicted to Tattoos | New Look Houston." New Look Houston. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.

Quirk, Daily. "5 Reasons Why Tattoos Are Addicting." The Daily Quirk. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013.