Bekah Miles, 20, found a creative and effective way to spark conversations about depression on social media.
The George Fox University student posted a picture on Instagram of her artistic leg tattoo, according to BuzzFeed , which consisted of a simple yet profound statement that speaks volumes.
From one perspective, the tattoo reads “I’m Fine.” However, from a reverse angle (i.e. Bekah’s perspective looking down at her leg), it says something completely different.
Miles opened up about her leg tattoo and the message behind it within the caption of her Instagram photo.
“‘I’m fine’ / ‘save me’. When everyone else sees this tattoo, they’ll see ‘I’m fine,’ but from my angle it reads ‘save me.’ To me, it means that no matter how happy someone may appear, they could be struggling. Like myself. My battle was only diagnosed a year ago, but this is a lifelong battle.”
Within the caption, Bekah Miles advises people interested in reading more to visit her Facebook page .
The same picture that she posted on Instagram was apparently posted on Facebook as well – along with a 587-word caption which reads more like a lengthy blog post.
Miles introduces her post by stating that she is “ready to have a conversation” about depression – a mental illness that she was diagnosed with last year – and what it had to do with her decision to get a tattoo.
“In all honesty, I believe it was a problem for quite a while before that, but I think it just got worse to the point of hardly functioning. So today, I got this tattoo. I feel that my leg was the best place for the meaning behind it… To me, it means that others see this person that seems okay, but, in reality, is not okay at all. It reminds me that people who may appear happy, may be at battle with themselves.”
Bekah Miles than identified quite a few of the symptoms and situations associated with depression – including its emotional, mental and physical roller coasters.
For instance, within her list, she shined a spotlight on such things as appetite issues (“eating too much or eating too little”), emotional breakdowns “over absolutely nothing,” suffering friendships and relationships, need for constant distraction, and days she feels sad “for no reason.”
Miles concluded her Facebook post with a quote from the late Robin Williams , a celebrity that was very open about his longtime struggle with depression.
“I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it’s like to feel absolutely worthless and they don’t want anyone else to feel like that.”
It did not take very long for Miles’ posts and pictures to generate buzz online.
Quite a few people have talked about the “I’m Fine – Save Me” tattoo on Twitter as well.
When you tell everyone “I’m fine” but on the inside you’re screaming “save me.” What an amazing tattoo https://t.co/K6WkiP9CyX
— Lea Juarez (@lea_j3526) August 31, 2015
I saw a tattoo that says “I’m Fine” when you read it one way and when you read it upside down it says “Save Me”. I highly feel for this one.
— + ?bearded toast? + (@asdfghjkl_no) August 31, 2015
It is so cool that I saw a tattoo post the other day that one way says “Im Fine” but “save me” the other way, & now its on the news.
— Art Student (@Jessi_J21) August 31, 2015
You’re point of view (I’m fine) Her point of view (save me) One of the best tattoos I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/Eibf6pR0sE
— Nigel Poppy (@NigelPoppy) August 30, 2015
As of right now, Bekah Miles’ Facebook post of the “I’m Fine – Save Me” tattoo has been shared over 305,200 times and liked over 369,600 times.
[Image Credit: Bekah Miles Instagram ]
