I have a 22 y/o young man with a history of chronic neuro-Lyme, CIRS, and PANDAS. He was doing great and in remission – in college. Then there was a leak in his dorm room and a subsequent mold exposure. He became suddenly suicidal and had to leave college. We now have him back in remission, he is happy, and a paramedic even (never was able to return to school there, however).
My problem that I need your help with here is…..
The same week of the water damage, he got a tattoo. And in his head, this tattoo is somehow related to his self-loathing that came on when he had all of that neuro-inflammation. SO, since I was unable to get him to work on therapy to work through these feelings, we just decided to have it removed (since he felt that he couldn’t move on without this happening). Over the next 3-4 years he has had treatment after laser treatment with a local dermatologist out of pocket (it was stubborn) and now finally almost all of the actual ink is gone.
Now he is left with a sort of halo of pink skin where the ink had been so that you can still see the outline of the tattoo. He would rather have the skin damaged and have a big scar there, or have surgery to have all of that skin removed, or really ANYTHING besides still being able to see that image (or even the whispering of the image that had been there). Side note: yes, this is clearly some lingering OCD/PTSD related to this trauma… and we are having him work on this.
Can any of you pls help me know how to counsel him? Will this halo/shadow become less noticeable over time? Is there a treatment you can recommend to him? a product? (Again, don’t worry, I am “on” the emotional piece for him.)
Any help/insights you can offer would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Cynthia
