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

In recovery, there isn’t just one path. For some, the only sustainable way forward is complete abstinence. For others, the goal is to rebuild a healthier relationship by practicing intention, boundaries, and clarity. This is true across many high-risk, dopamine-driven activities—gambling, day trading, compulsive spending, and yes, collecting.

Some members of our community recognize that they can never return to cards—or to any form of leisurely spending or collecting, for that matter. For them, the hobby became toxic—a source of compulsion rather than joy. Maybe they were never truly in it for the purity of collecting, or maybe that purity was stripped away by the insidious side of the hobby: the endless chase for profit, the constant pursuit of the next dopamine hit or impressing others.

When the hobby reaches this point, stepping away completely—and perhaps permanently—may be the only safe option. Walking away for good isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom and courage.

Others in our community don’t necessarily identify as having a “problem”. They still love the hobby, but they want to be proactive about collecting with intention—before it takes control.

For them, it’s about setting boundaries, practicing mindfulness, and finding clarity so that collecting remains a source of connection and joy, not compulsion and regret. They understand and acknowledge that the hobby has evolved into an ecosystem built to pull people in—engineered to exploit excitement rather than nurture passion—and, if left unchecked, to keep them trapped.

This distinction isn’t unique to collecting. It mirrors other high-risk, dopamine-driven activities. Gambling, day trading, even shopping—each operates on the same neurological feedback loops. But if someone struggles with gambling, does that automatically mean they can’t safely participate in other high-risk activities like day trading or even something as seemingly harmless and socially accepted fantasy sports?

With football season officially upon us—and chatter and camaraderie around gambling and sports cards everywhere—now is a good time to take a step back, pause and assess where we stand in relation to it all.

Is fantasy sports “gambling”? Some say yes, some say no. Gamblers Anonymous defines it as gambling, and for some, it triggers the same compulsions as a night at the blackjack table or formulating a multi-leg teaser. But for others, it feels more like casual competition among friends and might not ignite the same fire.

The truth is, it depends on the person. Each of us has a different threshold, a different set of risk factors, and a unique relationship to risk, reward, and control. What feels harmless to one person can be destructive to another. That’s why these conversations matter—so we can recognize when the line between fun and compulsion starts to blur and adjust our habits accordingly—before things spiral.

That’s also why there’s no cookie-cutter approach. Each person’s circumstances are unique, and every individual’s journey deserves to be treated as such. For some, abstinence is freedom. For others, intention is balance. Neither path is necessarily “better” than the other—it’s about finding the lane that keeps you safe, grounded, and true to yourself. And for some, it might be a hybrid between the two—or another line entirely.

At the end of the day, we don’t have all the answers—and there’s no perfect antidote we can prescribe to cure addiction. But at Collectors MD, we honor every lane.

What matters most is that you find a path that works for you—not one dictated by the industry, the market, or even the people around you. The choice isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s deeply personal. And whatever path you choose, you don’t have to walk it alone—we support you wherever you are in your journey.

#CollectorsMD
The healthiest lane is the one that keeps you free from compulsion and rooted in choice—whether that means walking away entirely or collecting with intention.

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