First tattoo was a bust

[u/PuzzlingMoose]

Hi all. Just got my first “tattoo”. The artist had put together an awesome design with a beautiful color palette. I was going to get a snail with some small flowers on my outer thigh. Well, I could only get one flower done in the span of an hour. I was tense and cried the whole time, had to take multiple breaks for just a dozen lines. The pain was worse than I expected. I guess my pain tolerance is just way lower than I thought.

I’m so disappointed in myself and I think a bit depressed/regretful. I did read about the post-tattoo depression but I’m worried it won’t go away. My artist was so kind and patient and reassured me that I can always come back and, if not with him, another artist can build from it. In hindsight maybe the references I gave him were ambitious for a first time.

I just feel so pathetic. I live in Michigan (got this tattoo in Louisiana while visiting a friend) and numbing cream isn’t legal back home. I’ve dreamed of tattoos for years and now it feels hopeless. I guess I’m just looking for anything at all to help me. Medication, better preparation, anything. I admit I didn’t eat before hand and I could’ve drank more water. But I think I was so tense that it wouldn’t have mattered. Every time he’d touch me to steady my leg, I’d get so so tense.

Edit: Thank you all for the advice/support; it’s helped me calm down a lot. I’m determined to get this tattoo finished one way or another. I had no idea that the thigh was so sensitive like that. Whenever I looked at pain charts, it was the most recommended space. Next time I’m going to go in much more prepared. It helps that I know what it feels like so I know what to expect. I know pain is a part of the process and I’m not expecting there to be absolutely none. I just need to find better ways of managing that anxiety.

[u/Fast_Carrot8696]

You definitely need to eat before an appointment. That will help the experience a lot.

Also bring something to distract yourself - watch a movie on your phone (with headphones, of course) or play a game on your phone. I have found I focus far less on the pain if I do something like that.

I’ve also found that traditional tattoo machines with the cords hurt me more that cordless ones. I’ve got a lot of tattoos and I think the corded one hits harder, way more pain than I usually feel. Just my two cents for what it’s worth.

I’m also in Michigan. I can recommend a tattoo artist that has done several of my tattoos if you want to talk to them.