Published May 04, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

Recovery is a rhythm—not a finish line. And in the modern world of collecting, where the next drop is always around the corner and dopamine is a click away, staying grounded takes more than willpower. It takes practice. That’s why our weekly support meetings aren’t just a suggestion—they’re a cornerstone.

They help us remember what we’re building.

Because it’s easy to forget. Easy to scroll, compare, relapse, justify. One minute you’re “just browsing,” and the next you’re down $800, rationalizing it as an investment. When we don’t stay connected, the hobby can quickly become a hiding place again—a way to escape, numb, or chase validation.

Weekly meetings bring us back to the mission:
To collect with intention, not compulsion.
To lead with accountability, not impulse.
To build a life—not just a PC.

And to do that, we commit to a kind of code. A life ethic rooted in self-awareness, support, and small daily choices. Things like:

• Attend often. Recovery is built on repetition. Growth comes from showing up, even when you don’t feel like it.

• Stay connected. Don’t wait for a meeting to reach out. Text someone. DM a peer. Isolation is a setup.

• Limit temptation. Unfollow accounts. Step back from high-risk platforms. If it’s triggering, it’s not helping.

• One day at a time. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life overnight. Just stay steady today.

• Return to the basics. Revisit the Recovery Guide. Ask yourself the questions. Re-read the steps.

• Seek support. A sponsor or accountability buddy isn’t just a nice-to-have—it can be game-changing.

• Talk money. Join a group chat. Create a spending plan. Seek a pressure relief group meeting. Be honest. It’s not just emotional—this is financial healing too.

• Be patient. You are not broken. You are rebuilding. And that takes time.

This isn’t just about stopping bad habits—it’s about starting new ones that create space for peace, freedom, and purpose. And remember: this is a lifelong commitment, not a quick fix. Recovery doesn’t happen overnight. You don’t need to solve everything today.

Be patient with yourself.

The days and weeks will pass either way—but when you keep showing up, take it one step at a time, and follow the principles above, you will feel the change. Slowly, steadily, you’ll begin to see what real recovery looks like: consistency, clarity, and control—not just over your collection, but over your life.

You’re not behind. You’re not alone.
You’re here—and that’s everything.

#CollectorsMD
Healing starts when you keep showing up—even when you think you don’t need to.

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