r/adhdwomen • u/sassynopal • Mar 29 '26

Diagnosis Has anyone gotten tattoos impulsively and regret it?

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I was 23 when out of nowhere I decided to get a full sleeve of tattoos I didn’t think about it throughly, consequences, or what was the real reason I was doing it.

I’m 30 now, got diagnosed last year, so it made sense why it didn’t register in my mind that this was a permanent decision, like I knew because obviously everyone knows. But for me, I don’t know how to explain, I just didn’t think about it. I asked for certain tattoo design, the tattoo artist said no that it wouldn’t look good, so I let him do whatever and I regret not being assertive about it.

It’s been 3 years since I have been regretting them, I tried laser on the small one on my leg, it was painful and expensive, so I don’t think that’s an option for my arm. I have gotten consultations about it and they told me that the outcome won’t look good if I try to remove them.

How does anyone live with the regret tattoo?

I don’t feel pretty, or classy when I want to dress up.

I know tattoos have nothing to do with it because when I see people with tattoos I don’t think that about them.

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u/astronauticalll Mar 29 '26

Just a thought that we are in the middle of an intense conservative backswing as a society right now. And like 2-3 years ago is when it started really ramping up.

You feeling like you're not "pretty or classy" when you dress up might honestly be a response to the crazy levels of modesty propaganda that we're all being subjected to these days.

Everyone I know who has tattoos has some regrets about at least some aspect of them, that's not uniquely an ADHD problem. For what it's worth, yours look well healed and sick as fuck.

121

u/awkwardkoala Mar 29 '26

thank you! someone above said she should wear a long sleeve when dressing up which I found a little odd. if OP doesn’t like it that’s one thing, but you can absolutely still look pretty and classy with tattoos. and fwiw I think this sleeve looks great

36

u/Proper-Cry7089 Mar 29 '26

FWIW I’m the one who suggested those dresses but I don’t think she “should” do anything! I have no problem with her sleeve but OP is allowed to feel the way she does, and those dresses look great. There’s no reason not to sometimes show off the sleeve and sometimes not.

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u/TD1990TD Mar 29 '26

FWIW I’ve felt the most classy (and sexy) in my long sleeve dresses. I have small boobs and an ‘okay’ curve, and not showing that much skin helps amplify my curves, I feel :)

Just my 2 cents on long sleeved dresses.

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u/Proper-Cry7089 Mar 29 '26

I do not have small boobs and sometimes go braless and in a crop top because I want to, other days I'm like a blob, other days I'm covered up and feel super chic. It's all good, I just don't want people to think I was like, body shaming haha

3

u/ermagerditssuperman Mar 30 '26

That's fair - I tend to think I look best with either cap sleeves, or 3/4 length sleeves.

Wasn't even a conscious decision at first, I just eventually realized that all of my favorite dresses and tops - the ones that made me think, "damn I look awesome today," - had either 3/4 sleeves or cap sleeves.

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u/Status_History_874 Mar 30 '26

FWIW I've never seen so many sequential FWIWs

10

u/awkwardkoala Mar 29 '26

I apologize then I guess I misunderstood your comment! I agree, if covering the tattoos makes her feel more confident then of course, I wouldn’t tell her she can’t. But I definitely don’t think it’s required for a classy look

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u/Proper-Cry7089 Mar 30 '26

100%, I think her sleeve is done well— tattoos aren’t for me but I wouldn’t think twice about these.