By Tanya Hvilivitzky
Last Updated: 19 Jul 2023
24 Comments
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Body art reminds us of our strength and courage when coping with life’s ups and downs, bringing visibility to the invisible: bipolar, anxiety, and depression. Here are five of the most common symbols illustrating that resilience.
#1 The Semicolon ;
The semicolon tattoo waspopularized by Amy Bleuel, who founded Project Semicolon in 2013. Project Semicolon is dedicated to raising awareness of depression and presenting messages of hope and love. As Bleuel often described the punctuation mark, the semicolon is used when an author could have chosen to end a sentence but chose instead to continue on. Many now personalize the image of the semicolon, incorporating it into personally inspiring tattoos. This symbol serves as a reminder that the author is you; the sentence is your life. You can choose to continue on.
#2 The Colon, an Open Parenthesis, and a Colon :(:
Just like the semicolon, other forms of punctuation are used to portray mental health challenges; this arrangement of two colons and an open parenthesis represents bipolar disorder. The symbol makes a kind of double emoticon. Looked at one way, it’s is a smiley face; the other way, it’s a frowny face. With its two extremes, this symbol calls to mind the highs of mania and lows of depression. It’s also reminiscent of the comedy and tragedy masks, another popular tattoo.
#3 The Green Ribbon
The color green has long been associated with mental health challenges, so it’s no surprise that lime green is the color of choice for the ribbon, wristband, or clothing often used in the mental health awareness campaigns that run each year in May. It’s also part of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) StigmaFree campaign to help end the stigma and raise awareness. As a design element, it is common to either get inked with a green ribbon tattoo (to promote open conversation) or to simply incorporate the color green into other body art.
#4 The Neurotransmitters
The geometric patterns of molecular structures—like serotonin and dopamine—have been gaining popularity. As we know, serotonin plays a major role in regulating moods and has been called the body’s natural “feel-good” amino compound. Dopamine is an important chemical messenger in the brain that helps regulate emotional responses and contributes to feelings of pleasure. Many people view these unusual-looking tattoos as a prompt to do what they can to increase happiness, while others use it to reduce feelings of shame, seeing the art as representing the chemical reason for their challenges.
#5 The Story: Renewal, Metamorphosis,Journey
There areendless imaginative ways people have found to depict their own struggles, theups and the downs of life, and the extremes that are hallmarks of bipolar. Symbolicillustrations for renewal can include the mythological phoenix—rising from theashes for a new life—as well as metamorphosis, like the butterfly. Also prevalentare designs that represent a journey; looking at the visual art inspiresstrength and serves as a reminder of their own stories and resilience. Othersfind creative ways to cover or incorporate into art the scarring from self-harm—oftenwith simple words or phrases, like “breathe” or “you are enough.” Body artrelated to mental health challenges brings beauty, visibility, and reminders ofthe pride and courage we have to face each day.
art, depression, empowerment, resilience
About the author
Tanya Hvilivitzky
Tanya Hvilivitzky has spent more than 30 years in the communications field — a career that has included stints as an investigative journalist, managing editor for a lifestyle and wellness magazine, corporate communications director, and researcher/writer. She has been with bpHope (and bp Magazine) since 2016, serving in roles such as features editor, interim editor, and, currently, senior editor. She has been devoted to mental health awareness since she was the editor of Schizophrenia Digest in her early days, and now with a particular focus on highlighting the complexities of bipolar disorder through compassionate, service-based journalism.As an award-winning writer/editor, Tanya received the Beyond Borders Media Award for her 2012 investigative exposé about human trafficking for Niagara Magazine. Her work on this critical topic also earned the Media Freedom Award “Honouring Canada’s Heroes” from the Joy Smith Foundation to Stop Human Trafficking.
24 Comments
Patrecia May 1, 2024 at 8:32 am
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Going through dark depression again. I chose to read inspiration from bp magazine today and “by chance” read this article about tats that represent open-ended reassurance, identification with
others who are determined to push through….
And to Grace: I am 75 & animals and nature have kept me feeling Hopeful since 1950’s! Thank you!Marie June 23, 2022 at 6:11 pm
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I am looking into getting a Phoenix tattoo Becky the last two month have seemed like I would never rise again.
Gabe Howard February 15, 2022 at 11:22 pm
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The bipolar symbol was popularized by me, Gabe Howard. Bit of a bummer I wasn’t credited … 😉
Tuesday Greenidge January 19, 2024 at 5:56 am
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hi Gabe- if i was ever to get ink i would choose your symbol. (:
x
Wendy January 21, 2022 at 6:02 am
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I have the green ribbon with the colons I love it!
Sandi October 8, 2021 at 2:42 pm
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No pictures! Why bother…
Jeanne January 6, 2022 at 5:27 pm
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I have the two chemical structures of serotonin and dopamine added a few flowers with it and it’s really cute. If you find the time google tattoos for bipolar there are many.
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