100+ Sobriety Tattoo Ideas to Mark Your Sober Journey

From the AA symbol to the word sober, there are a lot of sobriety tattoos for you to choose from!

When clients come to me for their sobriety tattoos, it is always such a powerful experience. You get to hear about difficult pasts and beautiful futures. I am grateful that I get to be a part of their journey to sobriety in some small way.

In this post, I have included the top sobriety tattoo ideas and provided some insight into what these sobriety tattoos mean:

The Best Sobriety Tattoo Designs

Here are the top sobriety tattoos to help you mark your recovery journey:

AA Sobriety Tattoos

AA or Alcoholics Anonymous has often been a starting important moment of the recovery journey in many a person's life.

In fact, scientific research has shown that AA is one of the most effective ways in helping people maintain their sobriety. It has even been noted to be more useful than therapy.

Considering his information, getting an AA sobriety tattoo makes a lot of sense. However, what would this kind of recovery tattoo look like?

Well, if you are looking for simple and small sobriety tattoos, then you may want to consider getting the AA symbol - this is a triangle inside of a circle.

This symbol for sobriety tattoos isn't random at all. The AA triangle represents the three core values of the system - recovery, unity, and service. These values help to address the three branches of addiction as a disease - the mental, physical, and spiritual.

As you will notice in such sobriety tattoos, all sides of this triangle are equal and balanced. This signifies that all of these values must be equally utilized in your life for the program to really work.

The circle in such sobriety tattoos denotes what the AA means as a whole.

Getting this sobriety tattoo is a constant reminder of the effort that you must make and the steps that you must take to lead a sober life.

There are a few different options for this kind of sobriety tattoo. You can just get the triangle within the circle. If you would like to add a bit more detail to your sobriety tattoo, then you can consider inscribing the three words across each line of the triangle.

Of course, you have the freedom to get as creative with your sobriety tattoos as you want! This means that you can add color, detail, and a lot more to bring your AA sobriety tattoo to life.

Check out these AA sobriety tattoos for inspiration for your own:

Serenity Prayer Sobriety Tattoos

Like many recovering addicts, the serenity prayer has likely brought you comfort during times of self-doubt, desperation, or confusion. Therefore, it makes the perfect sobriety tattoo.

Although it may be just 25 words long, this prayer is incredibly meaningful to recovering alcoholics and any kind of addict:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference.

One of the reasons that this prayer is so significant is because many people turn to drink or substances when they feel anxious that things are beyond their control. This prayer, however, guides you through such times and gives you an alternate option instead.

So, getting this sobriety tattoo acts as a permanent reminder of each person's commitment to their sobriety.

There are a few different versions of these sobriety tattoos that you can. If you want to keep it simple with your sobriety tattoo, then you can just have a few of the words inked on you. For a sobriety tattoo that is more meaningful, you can get the whole serenity prayer.

By themselves, such sobriety tattoos can feel pretty plain, so if you want to take your sobriety tattoo to the next level, you can add some artistic elements.

The easiest way to add creativity to such sobriety tattoos is with the font. Choose ones that stand out - for a more elegant sobriety tattoo, use a flowing script.

Also, you can switch up upper and lowercase letters in such sobriety tattoos, drawing the focus to specific, important words.

Now, this prayer is believed to have Christian origins. So, if you are someone who has faith, then you may want to consider adding other religious symbology to such sobriety tattoos. Your sobriety tattoos can include anything from a simple cross or rosary to the heavenly gates.

Another cool idea for these kinds of sobriety tattoos is to add butterflies to the sobriety tattoo design. Butterflies symbolize transformation and can be a fitting addition to such sobriety tattoos.

Lotus Flower Sobriety Tattoos

Even though you may want a sobriety tattoo as a small reminder of your recovery, you may not necessarily want a sobriety tattoo design that directly points to your past addiction.

Or, you may simply be on the lookout for small sobriety tattoos. In this case, lotus sobriety tattoos would be an excellent idea for you.

Now, lotus sobriety tattoos aren't just delicate and beautiful, they are also quite meaningful.

See, lotuses are associated with purity. This is because these flowers tend to grow atop the muddiest and murkiest waters. Despite that, the white and other colored petals still bloom without a hint of dirt on them.

As a result, lotus sobriety tattoos can be a way for you to remind yourself that although you may have had a murky past, what matters is how you move forward, making an attempt to live a good life each and every day.

Also, lotus sobriety tattoos can also be a great reminder to steer clear of the people who can drag you back into your addiction. To stay sober (pure) you stand above and away from these people.

Date Sobriety Tattoos

This is a pretty simplistic sobriety tattoo and is a great idea if you are interested in small sobriety tattoos. Despite this, this recovery tattoo is still pretty special. After the day that you decide to get sober is more than just a date.

Rather, it was a monumental moment that changed the course of your entire life. Such sobriety tattoos aren't just great for you, they can also be a wonderful encouragement to others in a similar position. So, for this purpose, you can get such small sobriety tattoos in an area visible to others.

If you can remember the day that you decided to get sober, then you should get it inked on your body as a sobriety tattoo. In case you don't remember the exact time or day, the month or even year will work just as well for these sobriety tattoos.

If you want to help yourself keep an eye on your ultimate goal, then you may want to get your sobriety tattoo in such a way that you can slowly add to your sobriety tattoo each year.

One Day at a Time Sobriety Tattoos

As anyone who is trying to be booze-free or drug-free knows, it isn't an easy task. The pull of addiction is always under your skin, calling to you. This is one of the reasons for sobriety tattoos.

It is because of this that the most that you can expect from yourself is to take one day at a time. If you are having trouble staying on the straight and narrow, it can be helpful to simply think of today - tackle tomorrow when you get there.

So, one day at a time sobriety tattoos can be a perfect reminder to help you focus on what is truly important, especially when you don't have your support groups around you.

Here are the sobriety tattoos that will make for great inspiration:

Bottom of the Bottle Sobriety Tattoos

One of the things that I like about such sobriety tattoo designs is that it is bold and risque. After all, you are inking one of your biggest weaknesses on your body!

However, such sobriety tattoos say a great deal about you. These sobriety tattoos show that you accept your past and rather than trying to hide it, you are trying to learn from it so that you can be a better person.

Such sobriety tattoos also prove that you are willing to tackle your biggest issues head-on. And, in doing so, you are more likely to stick to your sobriety.

Of course, these types of sobriety tattoos also prove that you are not afraid to have a laugh. These sobriety tattoos are a way of poking fun at yourself and your addiction.

I also have to say that such sobriety tattoos tend to be incredibly visually compelling. The sobriety tattoo design, the colors, and the vibe come together to create a sobriety tattoo that you can't take your eyes off of.

A lot of these sobriety tattoos boast a traditional tattoo design. This works well with the kind of imagery that you should choose for such a sobriety tattoo.

At the same time, you are free to choose your own style and design for this kind of recovery piece.

Bottom of the Glass Sobriety Tattoos

These sobriety tattoos have a similar concept to the bottom of the glass. This kind of sobriety tattoo shows you the bad things that await you at the bottom of a glass.

Now, there is no denying that there is a bit of dark humor associated with this sobriety tattoo so if this is right up your alley, this is a sobriety tattoo design that I would definitely suggest for you.

This design is also a good idea if you prefer small sobriety tattoos instead of the larger tattoo associated with the bottle sobriety tattoos.

Now, this sobriety tattoo works if you are looking for something a bit more elegant. You can choose a sleek glass like a champagne flute or a martini glass or even a scotch glass to make your point.

Check out these sobriety tattoos to determine what kind of sobriety tattoo you should get:

Rise Sobriety Tattoos

These sobriety tattoos feature a boxer with his hands up. In these sobriety tattoos, the boxer may be bloodied and bruised, but he continues to keep fighting.

Such sobriety tattoos showcase the daily struggle of staying sober. At the same time, if you choose to get a sobriety tattoo like this, you are also making the point that the fight is worth it and that you are going to continue fighting.

These sobriety tattoos can be a good reminder to never give up and to keep moving forward even when times get tough.

This kind of sobriety tattoo is often going to be done in a traditional style. This works well with the whole boxer theme. Of course, you are also free to get a more modernized version of your sobriety tattoo.

Check out these sobriety tattoos for your own inspiration:

Sober Sobriety Tattoos

Do you want to be no mistake about what your sobriety tattoo means? Then, you should consider sobriety tattoos with the word sober in them.

These sobriety tattoos proudly display your past, present, and future. Such sobriety tattoos are also the only reminder you need to stay on your current path.

Check out these sobriety tattoos for inspiration:

What is a Good Tattoo for Sobriety?

There isn't just one good sobriety tattoo design. This is because sobriety tattoos are often quite personal to the individual getting inked.

So, while you may want a cool-looking sobriety tattoo, it is likely that you want your sobriety tattoo to mean something to you.

Due to this, it is important to go with a sobriety tattoo that strikes a chord with either your life as a recovering alcoholic or someone who is overcoming drug addiction. Or, your sobriety tattoo can be based on your sober journey or your current sober lifestyle.

The good news is that in this post, you can find all types of sobriety tattoos. So, you should be able to find a sobriety tattoo that relates to you and that you can use as a base for your own design.

What is the Symbol for Sobriety?

There are actually a few different symbols for sobriety and sobriety tattoos. If you are a recovering alcoholic, then you may want to consider the Alcoholics Anonymous symbol which is a triangle inside of a circle.

A lot of people associate the lotus flower with sobriety and sobriety tattoos as well. This can also be a good option for someone who is overcoming drug addiction and looking for a sobriety tattoo. Therefore, you want to use it as a symbol of your sober life or, at least, include it in your sobriety tattoo design.

What Tattoos Symbolize Overcoming Struggles?

Once again, there is more than one symbol here for sobriety tattoos. Many of these symbols for sobriety tattoos have spiritual origins and are meant to represent that you have a sober, more stable life.

Due to this, the symbols that you can use for your sobriety tattoo include the chakra, mandala, the tree of life, etc. Interestingly enough, these symbols also make for a calming tattoo, not just a sobriety tattoo.

These are all the sobriety tattoos that you need to know about. From simple to complex, there are so many designs available to you. All you have to do is to choose the sobriety tattoos that match your journey and your intention.