03/30/2026
Hey Y'all!! I'm still here! Working on getting a new location to get back to inking folks again. (Long post, sorry not sorry, lol)
In full transparency mode, I encountered some very serious and dangerous mental health issues over the past few months that have kept me isolated and locked in an unhealthy place.
I'm being fully transparent with this because I hope that it helps someone else who is struggling to not feel so alone. My support team keeps reminding me to treat my mental health the same way I would treat physical health, would I keep pushing 100% of the time if I had COVID? Probably not... So I needed time to heal and reforge a path forward.
I think it's important for artists who struggle with these things to talk about them. Mental Health in this industry is often treated like a joke, and those of us who do struggle with it sometimes feel bullied for it, and our work then gets criticized unfairly. Us Neurospicy Tattoo Artists are just as valid as those who are neurotypical, and in denial that mental health issues are real. You are more than your diagnosis, and you are valid in needing to take the time you need to heal and adjust course.
Getting back into the saddle is harder than it sounds when you struggle with mental health. nervous system regulation is extremely difficult when PTSD triggers are popping up every time you turn around, and when your brain is actively keeping you paralyzed and incapable of 'doing the thing'. It's been a lot to get a handle on. Especially in these times when everything feels threatening, terrifying, temporary, confusing, and overwhelming.
I hope y'all understand and haven't totally given up on me. I am rather eager to get back into the swing of it!
Thanks for reading this far, and I'll keep y'all posted on when I'm opening my books again and where I'll be!
