Published May 25, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

When you’re deep in it—the gambling apps, the late-night breaks, the endless chases—money stops feeling real. You’re moving fast, clicking faster, watching balances rise and vanish in seconds. And somewhere along the way, real money starts to feel like Monopoly money. Just numbers on a screen. Nothing tangible. Nothing that sticks.

It’s not just the spending. It’s the detachment. The adrenaline. The way your brain rewires itself to chase outcomes, not weigh consequences. That $50 break spot? It barely registers—just a shot at the next dopamine hit. That $200 L? Shrug it off and reload. That paycheck you worked all week for? Gone in an hour—and somehow, it doesn’t hit the way it should.

Through recovery, one of the most powerful things we can do is relearn the value of a dollar. Not just what it can buy, but what it represents.

Time. Energy. Effort. Security. Freedom.

Every dollar has a story. Every dollar is earned. And when you’re caught in the cycle, you lose that story—you trade meaning for momentum.

But if we don’t respect our money, we end up disrespecting ourselves—our hard work, our time, our future.

So I’m learning to slow down. To feel it when I spend. To pause before I click. To ask why instead of just how much.

To stop treating my income like a slot machine—and start treating it like something I’ve bled for.

Because recovery isn’t just about stopping the behavior. It’s about rebuilding the connection. To yourself. To your time. To your worth.

#CollectorsMD
You can’t rebuild your life if you don’t rebuild your relationship with money.

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