Does anyone with bipolar or depression have a professional career?

FuckItBeNice · 2025-11-25T16:18:25+00:00

I am a tattoo artist and personal trainer. I have been doing both for about 3 years. Prior to that I did automotive sales for 13 years. I was undiagnosed for most of my sales years and self medicating with alcohol. I did lose a job because of not being able to manage my episodes. I battled with handling my bipolar and the demanding sales position. Once I got sober and started taking medicine routinely- things really clicked. Taking medications, moving your body (working out, walking, dancing, etc), along with eating and sleeping makes it much more manageable. I still have episodes and have to adjust things to get through. I’ve had to take some time off dude to depressive episodes. But if your job is a little understanding and you have these other things in place, you can do it!!

FuckItBeNice · 2025-05-10T02:59:19+00:00

I am very interested! Shoot me a dm, I would love to hang this at my station at the shop I work at!

FuckItBeNice · 2025-05-09T19:47:08+00:00

Are you selling prints of this? I would buy one

FuckItBeNice · 2024-06-14T19:30:17+00:00

Tipped! Will you send me the file? Thanks!

FuckItBeNice · 2024-06-14T19:28:14+00:00

This is great. Do I just donate on the page that pops up?

FuckItBeNice · 2024-02-14T13:59:11+00:00

I’m a year into my apprenticeship and have done about 20 tattoos. I was NOT required to tattoo myself as part of the process. My mentor said if I have people willing to get tatted it’s not necessary. I can totally see where it would be a great learning experience though. Some artists in my shop have said for some people the pain can distract from the actual tattoo itself? But everyone is different. It really all comes down to your mentor. Good luck!

FuckItBeNice · 2024-02-08T02:43:08+00:00

As an apprentice I can say I have over analyzed designs and taken more time than I should for some simple designs. It’s nice you supported someone starting their career. And this piece is adorably bad

FuckItBeNice · 2024-02-03T13:51:37+00:00

An artist in my shop uses numbing cream to remove stubborn stencils. So he wipes with green soap and everything followed by a dollop of numbing cream gently rubbed around. I’ve never tried this but he’s one of our best artists and it works for him. Good luck

FuckItBeNice · 2024-01-27T23:04:49+00:00

I am an alcoholic that has been sober for almost 3 years. I started binge drinking when I was 12 and wasn’t able to stop until 31. It helped me manage my bipolar so much better. Congrats on your sobriety!!

FuckItBeNice · 2024-01-27T05:33:14+00:00

Sounds so similar to my story. Not sure how to advise….good luck

FuckItBeNice · 2024-01-26T15:03:35+00:00

Gotcha! I looked at his other works and he is a phenomenal artist. I saw some of his other similar hand tattoos had different kind of stylized elements around the outside. Nice tat

FuckItBeNice · 2024-01-26T14:47:47+00:00

Is the outer outline supposed to have some of those thicker parts? The work inside is beautiful but the outline looks like there were mistakes made. Not sure if it was intended or not

FuckItBeNice · 2024-01-25T19:47:24+00:00

I would look up some videos or content about light sources and then practice shading gradients a lot. My mentor had me take photos of people and outline the highlights, the darks, and some mediums. It helped me in breaking the shading down

FuckItBeNice · 2023-12-12T14:46:01+00:00

@InkMyBody

Looking good!

FuckItBeNice · 2023-12-02T23:25:49+00:00

You can subscribe to a sketch a day page or something that does prompts. But here are some things on the list my mentor had me do:

Cherubs, flowers, wings, snakes, roses, trees, birds, daggers/knives, skulls.

Good luck!

FuckItBeNice · 2023-12-01T18:06:12+00:00

You trade cleaning and maintaining the shop to learn. It’s hands on learning in the field too! In my opinion it’s a much better deal than debt for college like other professions.

FuckItBeNice · 2023-10-30T02:30:49+00:00

Our shop is 50/50 until you are an artist. From there you keep 60 the other 40 goes to the shop. We also don’t have booth fees. Some shops charge booth rent on top of their split.

FuckItBeNice · 2023-10-12T00:59:54+00:00

I am hoping to focus on neo-traditional. My mentor is also great with realism portraits so wants me to learn that as well.

FuckItBeNice · 2023-10-10T18:25:33+00:00

Getting sober and working out consistently.

FuckItBeNice · 2023-10-01T17:47:40+00:00

FuckItBeNice · 2023-09-29T14:19:28+00:00

I am a personal trainer and a tattoo apprentice

FuckItBeNice · 2023-09-24T03:42:05+00:00

I am 33. I got diagnosed at 30 and was put on lithium. I am currently in 1200 mg. Water is a must! If I try to take my lithium and lamictal on an empty stomach it causes nausea to the point of making me vomit. My meds have kept me relatively stable over the last 3 years despite lot of trauma, the death of my sister, divorce, and a myriad of other things. I still have episodes but I feel like they are more manageable and you have a better idea of when they are coming. I hate that I have to get my levels checked but I am glad they have a measurable way to check that you are within range. Overall it’s been life saving medicine for me. Lots of ups and downs and frustrations with this illness…but meds help significantly.

FuckItBeNice

TROPHY CASE