Diagnosis celebration tattoo!
Recently got my dual diagnosis (AuDHD) and unmasking has been such an incredible relief, I felt the need to celebrate. I've always wanted a tattoo, but with masking, it never felt like any of my special interests were 'important' enough to put on my body permanently (Examples include anime characters and my own D&D characters). Decided to go with the dual ADHD / Autism pride symbol. I wanted a constant reminder not to mask whenever possible. I'm finally surfacing after years of masking burnout, I can't go back.
Side note - before I got my second diagnosis (ADHD) I was planning on giving my own spin on the autism pride symbol (something along the lines of a rainbow möbius strip made of triangular LED-light strip panels), but after I got the second diagnosis and looked up the combined symbol I knew I had my first tattoo for sure. This had the side benefit of me just being able to give an image straight to an artist without describing what I want and giving rounds of feedback, which feels terrifying. Might be brave enough for that next time.
Took five attempts, on five separate days to actually enter the tattoo shop, with my social anxiety. Sometimes I made it all the way to the doorway of the tattoo shop, only to walk past, unable to make the decision to walk in once I saw the place. Sometimes I got dressed and ready to leave and only made it to the doorstep. I thought people here would understand what a big deal this was to me to finally manage it.
With attempt number five I went with my wife, we went to a quieter, out of the way store that she recommended. I barely had to talk at all thanks to her, and my preparation of note docs I've been using for communication recently.
So happy I finally done it. Been masking so hard for so long, feels a huge relief to just have everything I've been suppressing about myself worn on my sleeve almost literally.
Best of all, I think if I wanted another tattoo I'd be able to go in on my own this time around. Even just having one example of what to expect to go off of makes everything so much less scary - and because I no longer feel shame about not currently engaging with a given special interest, a lot more of them feel important enough for a place on my body.
P.S. I had one of my fellow autistic friends correct me and he claims the rainbow infinity symbol represents neurodiversity while the gold infinity represents autism. Is there a general community preference or consensus on this? I know the puzzle piece is long gone, is this change recent?