Is it normal that it feels good to draw on my skin?

Every now and then I'll draw all up my legs and over my stomach with a biro. It just feels good. A little bit destructive, but calming and confident. My housemate just said that it was really weird, but I only do it about three times a year or so, and I've recently realised she's quite judgemental. So, is it normal?

Voting Results
75% Normal
Based on 67 votes (50 yes)
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Comments ( 12 )
  • Shrubskill_Nurse

    I've felt the same way. I'd say it's normal as long as you aren't harming yourself or using a sharp razor.

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  • Fabulous

    Draw with dick ink, it's washable

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  • disthing

    Sometimes I do it. I doodle a lot so it's an extension of that habit. I used to do it when I was trying not to self-harm during adolescence - oddly therapeutic seeing the lines there.

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  • NiceKitty

    I like the feeling of tattoos... It's a scratchy burning feeling but It feels so good at the same time. I can understand how you would like that feeling though it is not "normal"

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  • flowergirl87

    Don't see the harm as long as it's biro and not a more inky pen that would sink into the skin. And it's good that you've realised your housemate is a bit judgemental - be careful of those people! lol They can make you feel like you've done something weird or even wrong when you haven't - it's just them being 'in their box'.

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  • dappled

    I do it on my arms, yeah. I like how it feels and it always washes off in the shower so I'm not that bothered.

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    • VioletTrees

      I used to do it just on my arms, too, mainly in high school. I'd use a permanent marker, though. I did designs of vines and flowers all up my forearms. Now, I sometimes draw other things. A cartoon drawing of me naked with the holter monitor on is still fading on my right biceps.

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      • dappled

        Eek! Don't say that. You'll get people messaging you asking for a picture. Hmm, now you've made me want to draw a face on my bicep that changes when I flex it.

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  • I don't know what a "biro" is, it sounds like a loaf of artisan bread.

    I write on my hand and forearm all the time, but it's always notes to myself if I can't find a piece of paper or I don't want to write it on paper. Sometimes it is a tickley feeling, I can understand why you'd like it. Got to be careful about the chemicals in the ink though, especially in permanent felt markers (yikes).

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    • dappled

      Ha! I didn't know you didn't have biros in Canuckville. It's just a ball point pen (Biro is the man who invented them). Similar to vacuum cleaner and Hoover. Hmm, now I don't know if you say Hoover in Canada.

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      • Ah, thanks for the clarification, but I still can't get the image of a loaf of bread out of my head.

        We have Bics (ink ballpoint pens), although I'm not sure it's a popular name any more and it can also refer to men's disposable razors.

        Hoover is a vacuum cleaner here too, but we don't normally refer to all vacuums as Hoovers, it's just a vacuum. Typically, we use Hoover as a replacement word for sucked, as in "you really Hoovered your food tonight, you must have been hungry." That was the PG version of the example, mostly it's used in the R-rated way.

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        • disthing

          We have Bics too, only here we'd say that Bics are a brand of Biro.

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