Published June 13, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

There’s a pattern many of us don’t always notice at first.

We start buying more—ripping, browsing, bidding, spending—during the moments when we’re most vulnerable—when everything else feels out of control. Not because we’re feeling joyful or intentional, but because we’re stressed, overwhelmed or agitated. The collecting becomes a release valve. A way to escape the noise, the expectations, the pressure.

When we’re outside, busy, or surrounded by structure, we might have healthier outlets—exercise, active hobbies or just simply getting fresh air or talking to someone. But when we’re stuck at home, overstimulated or under-supported, we often reach for the thing that gives us a quick hit of control. Something that feels like ours. Whether it’s a slab, a hobby box, a pair of sneakers, a rare comic book—anything with a digital checkout button—it becomes a shortcut to relief.

But it’s temporary. And once the dust settles, the tension is still there—only now it’s joined by regret, shame, and/or a depleted account.

This isn’t just about buying too much. It’s about how we cope when we’re under pressure. When we’re feeling under-appreciated, misunderstood, or boxed in, we chase something that gives us a sense of agency. But the problem is, that “quick fix” often leaves us feeling more trapped than before.

And this is how the cycle builds—slowly, silently, and often in the background of everyday stress.

The answer isn’t always abstinence. For some, that’s the necessary path. But for others, it starts with a pause. A question. A moment of clarity before the click, the swipe, the spend:

What do I actually need right now?
Space? Peace? Respect? Connection? A reminder that I matter?

Collecting can’t solve those needs. But self-awareness can. Community can. Replacing avoidance with intention can.

You’re not broken for trying to cope. But the collection can’t carry what your heart hasn’t unpacked.

#CollectorsMD
Before you buy, check what’s buying your attention.

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