I saw a Tik tok of this lesbian girl saying butterfly tattoos are a sign or way to tell if another girl is a lesbian. I have an appt for a butterfly tattoo in a month and now in’s really freaking out and planning on changing the tattoo :( UGH HOW IS A BUTTERFLY TATTOO A SUGN UR A LESBIAN?!

Sexual Orientation OCD

Ridethewave

Date posted: 3y

I've never used TikTok before and I've heard it's a super triggering app for literally ALL types of OCD. Which really sucks because I also heard it's a resourceful app

cc97

Date posted: 3y

Yes it’s a mix :( good w the bad

Rinata

Date posted: 3y

I DON'T KNOW! Tik tok i so triggering🥲 Really I hear about this meaning of butterfly tattoo for the first time. Internet: some of the most commonly, butterflies symbolize the idea of rebirth after trauma, transformation, and even freedom.

Rinata

Date posted: 3y

I think these meanings are much cooler!

cc97

Date posted: 3y

Yes! I was getting the butterfly because I used to self harm and would draw butterflies to help me stop. So it was a symbol of breaking free from that destruction. Now I’m debating on switching my entire tattoo and have no idea what I would even get. So many people have butterfly tattoos ugh

Ridethewave

Date posted: 3y

@cc97 I think you should still get it despite the connotations other people will assign to it. You seem to have a thorough understanding of why you want the tattoo, and it's a personal one at that. So who cares if others may see it differently. We don't even know if the "lesbian" symbolism of it is understood by other lesbians and not just that one person in TikTok. Goodluck 🧡

Rinata

Date posted: 3y

@cc97 You have your own meaning and girls from tiktok can't change it. So if you really want to do this butterfly tattoo, do it. I think it will be beautiful!

cc97

Date posted: 3y

@Rinata My ocd keeps saying if I get it then it means I’m a lesbian :(

cc97

Date posted: 3y

@Rinata Also heard that girls who wear sliver jwerly are lesbians and i wear that too ugh

Rinata

Date posted: 3y

@cc97 I know! I struggle with it too :(

GrAYY

Date posted: 3y

As someone formerly with hocd, i couldn't imagine the stress that would cause. I really really hate seeing stuff like that around. It makes my brain obsess about weird stuff meaning you're a lesbian like cottagecore, liking plants or animals, Subarus, button up shirts, converse shoes, being too feminine, being too masculine, being too funny, ect, ect. The list is endless.

mostdope42

Date posted: 3y

this is so true. i find it confusing how we are told that perpetuating stereotypes is harmful, and yet they continue to reproduce them. idk, i just try to be supportive but also tune it out for my own recovery.

cc97

Date posted: 3y

Yes exactly!! It’s hard to not obesss over it when ur mind doesn’t stop

GrAYY

Date posted: 3y

@Anonymous Yeah, unfortunately our thoughts are uncensored and rehash stereotypes and make associations that we don't really believe. I choose to believe there are no "bad thoughts" but I find it interesting that this bias exists in every single creature's brain, whether they apply it or not.

mostdope42

Date posted: 3y

i cant speak for the lgbtq community but i think they make those tik toks and trends bc they want to connect and bond. just as we bond and joke on here about ocd, they bond and joke about stereotypes, “signs” someone is a part of their community, and bond over common experiences they share. we don’t get it because we aren’t a part of it, so they may view that idea of “all lesbians have butterfly tattoos” as a joke, but since we aren’t within their community and familiar w their jokes, we may take that as fact ESPECIALLY with ocd. its such a difficult compulsion when you try and “figure out” if your experiences or interests align with our lgbtq friends or ppl we see online. but i think it’s important to disengage with that. i know tik tok can be amazing for exposures, but i was like you just a couple days ago, constantly getting triggered and it was harmful for my recovery. at least right now, i know i’m not ready to be back on it until i can have a professional to guide me into that part of my exposure. so i deleted my account!

cc97

Date posted: 3y

Thank you!

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