The effects of war injuries can take years for veterans to overcome, however Samuel Walley found that tattooing relieves the discomfort felt both physically and visually from his injuries from Afghanistan.

“Walley said his tattoos are more than just statements or art. They are also therapeutic, especially the ones he’s gotten since he lost his limbs to a homemade bomb,” according to KCTV 5 News in Missouri.

Walley says that the process of being tattooed also alleviates the pain. Through the pain of tattooing, he is able to focus his physical discomfort on the task at hand and not on old injuries.

To read more about how tattoos can help veterans like Walley click here.