Black dog depression tattoo (What it means)

In this blog we present to you a list of black dog depression tattoos.

Black dog depression tattoo

A black dog depression tattoo is a fairly common tattoo that most individuals who are living with depression or have recovered from depression get tattooed on their bodies. 

The black dog tattoo is a symbol associated with depression, which was popularised when Winston Churchill a 55-year-old Conservative Party politician who had been a member of parliament for three decades used the black dog analogy to describe his own bouts of depression.

Since then the black dog symbol has also been used by the Black Dog Campaign which began in the United Kingdom to raise awareness and resources for those living with depression. 

Here are a few sample of a black dog depression tattoo:

Major depressive disorder or depression is a serious mood disorder.

The disorder itself can cause the quality of life of people who have it to drastically decrease and in extreme cases, if the disorder is left untreated, it can lead to suicide attempts and death. 

Major depressive disorder or depression is a serious mood disorder.

The disorder itself can cause the quality of life of people who have it to drastically decrease and in extreme cases, if the disorder is left untreated, it can lead to suicide attempts and death. 

Here is a tattoo art of a black dog that can symbolise depression that is aggressive and dangerous. The black dog that is representative of the hopelessness and dejection that one feels when they are depressed and struggling. 

Here is a tattoo of a black dog that is representative of the hopelessness and dejection that one feels when they are depressed and struggling. 

Here is a tattoo of a black dog in a very minimal design that represents something similar to a lone wolf symbolising isolation and loneliness in their struggle with depression. 

People with depression often struggle with low self esteem and self worth which can cause them to negatively assess themselves. They may fear rejection and abandonment from other people which may cause them to isolate themselves in a bid to protect themselves.

This social withdrawal can make it difficult for them to maintain social commitments and relationships as they might choose to push people away especially when they do not have the skills to communicate and manage their emotions and thoughts. 

Here is a minimalistic design of a black dog tattoo that can represent the black dog analogy of depression. 

Here is a tattoo art of a black dog that can symbolise depression that is aggressive and dangerous.

Major depressive disorder or depression is a serious mood disorder.

The disorder itself can cause the quality of life of people who have it to drastically decrease and in extreme cases, if the disorder is left untreated, it can lead to suicide attempts and death. 

Here is a tattoo of a black dog that is representative of the hopelessness and dejection that one feels when they are depressed and struggling. 

Depression symptoms also include extremely low mood and fatigue and is often accompanied by thoughts of worthlessness and hopelessness which can lead to suicidal ideation and even attempts. 

The black dog tattoo is a symbol associated with depression, which was popularised when Winston Churchill a 55-year-old Conservative Party politician who had been a member of parliament for three decades used the black dog analogy to describe his own bouts of depression.

Here is a tattoo of a black dog who is dejected and broken down as a symbol of one’s struggle with depression.

Here is an interesting variation of the black dog tattoo where the artist has created a rendition of the girl with the pearl earring painting and instead added the woman along with three black dogs to symbolise depression. 

What is depression?

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a leading publication used for diagnosis of mental disorders by mental health professionals, Major depressive disorder or depression is a serious mood disorder.

Depression symptoms also include extremely low mood and fatigue and is often accompanied by thoughts of worthlessness and hopelessness which can lead to suicidal ideation and even attempts. 

Depression related symptoms such as inability to focus, lack of energy, and hopelessness can impact a person’s ability to work and meet the demands of their daily lives. 

People with depression often struggle with low self esteem and self worth which can cause them to negatively assess themselves. They may fear rejection and abandonment from other people which may cause them to isolate themselves in a bid to protect themselves.

This social withdrawal can make it difficult for them to maintain social commitments and relationships as they might choose to push people away especially when they do not have the skills to communicate and manage their emotions and thoughts. 

While these are some of the ways depression impacts a person, the disorder itself can cause the quality of life of people who have it to drastically decrease and in extreme cases, if the disorder is left untreated, it can lead to suicide attempts and death. 

What to do if you have depression?

If you have low moods and are feeling hopeless and in intense sense of despair for more than two weeks, it is very possible that you could be depressed; here are a few things that one can do to seek help:

Reach out

Here are a few resources form the NHS that you can make use of if you are suicidal, depressed, or engageing in self harm. 

• Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours
• Text “SHOUT” to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text “YM” if you’re under 19
• If you’re under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
• Self Injury Support webchat (for women and girls) is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7pm to 9.30pm
• CALM webchat (for men) is open from 5pm to midnight every day

You can also reach out to your local medical service providers or a mental health service provider. 

If you are hesitant about reaching out for help, speak to a trusted friend or adult about what you are going through.

Seek professional help

Seek out professional help when these thoughts don’t improve after a week or two even after you have tried to manage them alone. 

It is also imperative that you seek out help when the intensity of these thoughts and feelings disrupt your ability to function and meet the demands of your daily life. 

When loneliness turns to thoughts and feelings of hopelessness it can aggravate your suicidal ideation, this is a major symptom of depression. So seeking out professional help becomes necessary. 

Join a support group

Another thing you can do for yourself is to join a support group of people struggling with depression so that you can experience emotional support first hand within these communities and over time learn how to manage your challenges by learning from each other. 

By joining a group that is open, empathetic, and growing towards healing, you and your experiences can be an excellent sense of support to someone else who is also in their early part of their journey. 

References

Who described their depression as a black dog? Retrieved on 10th April 2022. https://www.sidmartinbio.org/who-described-their-depression-as-a-black-dog/#Who_described_their_depression_as_a_black_dog

What does a black dog mean spiritually? Retrieved on 19th April 2022. https://idairco.com/what-does-a-black-dog-mean-spiritually/#What_does_a_black_dog_mean_spiritually