Is it weird to be social phobic/anxious/shy and have tattoos?

Question

And I mean socially anxious to the point of almost vomiting. I have a Tattoo on each upper arm which are not visible when I have a t-shirt on. I often hate people staring at me yet I'm desperate to wear a sleevles top to show off my tats, I love tattoos but I'm afraid of getting a panic attack If people are going to stare at them. Yeah I'm weird I know!

I must add that I live in a conservative place with a lot of old people who have narrow minds about tattoos and the such.

Politican- That's the kind of mentality I hate; People who stereotype.

Answer 1

That's not weird at all. I have had social anxiety since before I can remember (I'm talking before preschool). I had it bad to the point of vomiting also and nonstop nausea for an extended period of time, tremors, turning red, all kinds of stuff. I wouldn't even want to enter a room that had people in it. I've worked through a lot of things and I am far better now for the past seven years than I was before that time. You can do that too. I didn't use medication or therapy so it is possible to do it without but if you feel it is right for you at some point do whatever you feel is right. I don't have any tattoos yet but I definitely plan to. I think the contradiction of being painfully shy and having tattoos and wanting to show them is showing you the difference between who you are on the surface and who you are deep down. Some people are naturally introverts but when it is to the point of disorder, it is usually because of conditioning and being 'made' that way by circumstances in your life that continue to build on the insecurity. That desire to show the tattoos is that part within yourself that knows there is another way and is the foundation for you to get better. The suggestion of going to a tattoo convention or rock concert is a good idea. If the number of people don't freak you out, that is an environment where you can feel accepted as a part of the crowd. If that is too many people, you can start smaller. You can go to tattoo shops just to stand in there for a few minutes wearing something that shows off your tattoos. You can go to a store or go to another town where it is not the people you see on a daily basis and wear a tattoo-bearing shirt there. You can take little steps to show it and if you're only comfortable with a few minutes, only do a few minutes. You can carry a jacket or another shirt with you and if it gets too much, put it on. You're covered and safe. Don't be afraid to push yourself passed your comfort zone. You don't need to do it every second of every day, just begin to do it every now and then and do it more and more as time goes on. Embrace that part of yourself that wants to show it. That's the real you. Take time to yourself to tell yourself over and over again that there is nothing wrong with you. You deserve great things and you are not inferior to anyone. You are worthwhile just for being alive. No one has the right to judge and if they do, their opinion is not worth caring about. Your opinion of yourself is the only thing you should worry about. Take deep, slow breaths when you have an attack. Calm your mind and get in tune with your body. Practice it when you are already calm and it will be easier to do it when you have an attack. Feel your body and practice your mind's control over it. You can train yourself to relax your muscles, even make the nausea go away or at the very least lessen by quite a bit. Approach life with the attitude that you are in control. You are your own person. You decide how your life will go from this point on and this thing will not have control over you. You're not going to take crap from anyone, including yourself. You CAN do this. I've been there. I know first hand what it feels like and how powerless you can feel. It's not your fault, you don't deserve it and it absolutely can get better. Lover yourself and love your tattoos. Best of luck to you and a long happy life!!!!! sorry for how long this got, but I hope it helps

Answer 2

I understand your plight. I also suffer from debilitating social anxiety, but I have a full back piece and some on my legs. I hate it when people get tattoos to just show them off (for example: barbed wire around the arm). Tattoos should be personal and meaningful. Mine don't see the light of the sun very often but when they do I don't mind letting people look. I think about how they are concentrating more on the artwork than my body. I know its hard to change your way of thinking, but by getting tattoos and having the courage to walk into the shop and go under the needle, you probably have more courage than most of those people out there that may be socially adept but afraid of needles. Just think of yourself as coming out ahead when the world ends. There will be a lot of pain but a lot less people. Peace.

Answer 3

Hey Celt ..... What you're describing is not weird. Some people are more extroverted than others. I don't do well in social situations with strangers. With people I know it's not so bad. Like you I have tattoos on both of my upper arms which are not visible when I wear a polo sleeve length shirts and I also live in a small rural community where tattoos aren't the norm. If I were you I would do a little research on the internet and find a tattoo convention or bike/car show or maybe even a rock concert . These are all places where you can go sleeveless without attracting attention. In fact, unless you have absolutely stunning tattoos, no one is likely to notice you in the crowd. It's a way you can show your ink without feeling like people are looking at you with disapproval.
Like I said I do know how you feel. I spent about 80% of my time with my ink hidden at work and in my community and its nice to be able to show your ink to people who aren't tattoo haters. You also might look for on-line tattoo groups and communities where you can share pics of your ink and talk with other people that love tattoos.

Rider (inked and hidden most of the time)

Answer 4

i'm really shy and don't talk to many people but I have a japanese tattoo on the back of my neck. When my hair is up everyone can see it but I don't care. As long as you're happy with them I don't see why you care.

Answer 5

maybe you need to work thru your anxiety. maybe subconsciously you want to work thru the issues and want to show off the tattoos as a way to do that?
i am a shy person but i don't care or really even notice when people look at me or my tattoos. i am a very oblivious person in large crowds, i live in my own little world.

Answer 6

No its not weird im the same way except for the whole phobia about people looking at my tatoos. i mean i have a tatoo but i don't get panic attacks when people look at it but i am socially phobic/shy.

Answer 7

Weird is more of a relative term, because to me it sound like to you this is a normal emotion of not liking to be judged by others, yet to someone else it might be "weird".

I hate being in front of groups, yet I have never met anyone who says different, either. I think there are different levels, and I am near the end you are at, but not that bad. I get fidgety and have to pee a lot.

Now for the tattoos, the reason you want to show them off is because they mean something to you and you like them. It is an image of who you are or what you believe.

Combine your personality of being shy and your desire to show off who you are and you get what you are describing.

Answer 8

Your personality has nothing to do with tattoos. Neither does hair color, eye color, and weight/height. That is just some silly stereotype out there believed by people who don't have tattoos.

Answer 9

I don't think your back is the best place to get it. you should get it somewhere less noticable in case you grow to dislike it later in life. dreamgirl would look pretty stupid on a 40 year olds back

Answer 10

i dont see the connection between tatoos and social anxiaty i have it to but , I try to fight threw it. sounds like u got it worse then me, problem is people think u r stuck up or wierd they dont understand the mental torure you go threw, yr not wierd man thousands if not millions of people feel same way, I was told its its from fear of being judges, lol u think tatoos r bad im 6'5 240 lbs , so people tend to stair at me when i walk into a room lolol thats what gets at me i think , i so wish i could be another face in the crowd , but im stand out everywere i go.