Published September 11, 2025 | By Dayae Kim, LMFT, Collectors MD Referral Network

Have you ever felt stuck in your emotions? Anxiety creeps in, your body tenses, your stomach churns, and your mind spins with dread. The fear creates its own cage—you can’t shake it, and suddenly you feel trapped inside it.

When our emotions get stuck, it’s because we haven’t found a way to release them. Completing the cycle—recognizing, processing, and letting go—is what allows us to return to balance.

Recognize What Triggered The Emotion
Pause and name the cause. Was it an unexpected expense, a tense exchange with someone close, or even something as small as a plan falling through?

Notice How It Feels In Your Body
Anxiety often shows up physically. Tightness in your chest. A knot in your stomach. Heat rising in your face. Awareness is the first step toward release.

Take Action
Engage in something that moves the emotion through your system:

• Take a few deep breaths

• Stretch or walk

• Call a friend

• Journal or cry

• Do something grounding that brings you joy

Notice The Shift
After releasing, check in with yourself. That danger you felt at first often loses its grip. You realize you’re okay—and you’ve closed the loop on the emotional cycle.

Like water returning to stillness, completing the emotional cycle helps us move past the urge to seek relief in things we know we shouldn’t during moments of weakness.

Completing this cycle reminds us that emotions aren’t permanent. They move, they change, and when we let them pass through us, we gain perspective and clarity.

And here’s where it ties into collecting: often when we’re stuck in emotion, our impulse is to chase relief—sometimes through overspending, ripping wax, or chasing the next hit. We tell ourselves the high will erase the low. But the truth is, the hobby can’t complete that cycle for us. Only we can. If we learn to release emotions directly—without turning to compulsive behavior—we protect both our mental health and our wallets.

#CollectorsMD
The emotional cycle doesn’t need to end in overspending—it can end in release, reflection, and resilience.

—
Follow us on Instagram: @collectorsmd
Subscribe to our Newsletter & Support Group
Join The Conversation On Mantel
Read More Daily Reflections

Published August 27, 2025 | By Dayae Kim, LMFT, Collectors MD Referral Network

The fears and stress that come with major life transitions are real and valid. A common theme I see with many of my clients is the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with change.

Life transitions look different for everyone. Some of my clients are graduating from college and entering the workforce for the first time. Others are navigating a breakup or beginning a new relationship. Some are adjusting to pregnancy or the realities of life with children. While these changes can be exciting, they are often filled with anxiety, fear, and stress because of the unknown.

One of the first things I encourage clients to do is speak their fears out loud instead of silently ruminating. Naming fears can immediately reduce the power they hold. From there, we work together to identify what’s actually changing—the loss of structure, the shift in identity, or the pressure to know what comes next.

I often ask, “What kind of structure or routine would you like to create for yourself now?”

When life feels purposeless or chaotic, building even small routines can restore a sense of control and calm.

It’s important to remember, creating structure doesn’t erase anxiety altogether. It is normal to feel excited, nervous, and fearful during transitions. Instead of pushing those feelings away, I encourage clients to embrace them—and to notice when they become overwhelming.

Another common fear I see is the belief that slowing down means “losing momentum”. Ironically, that fear can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead, I help clients acknowledge the fear and reframe it—momentum naturally has ebbs and flows. The more powerful question becomes, “What am I capable of right now?” or “What is one step I can take today?” That small mindset shift can make all the difference.

Here are some practical tips for managing life transition anxiety:

• Name your fears out loud. Reducing silent rumination can ease overwhelming thoughts.

• Identify what’s really changing. Is it your structure, identity, or sense of purpose?

• Build small routines. Simple daily habits help create grounding and stability.

• Accept all your feelings. Anxiety, excitement, and fear can coexist.

• Reframe the fear of “losing momentum”. Progress is not linear; slowing down can still be growth.

Life transitions—whether in career, relationships, or family—are challenging because they push us into the unknown. But they also hold the potential for growth, resilience, and meaning. If you’re finding yourself stuck in anxiety during a transition, know that you don’t have to navigate it alone.

In the collecting world, these same patterns often show up during hobby transitions. Maybe you’ve stopped chasing big breaks and are shifting toward intentional collecting, or maybe your finances are forcing you to rethink what and how you collect. These transitions can feel scary, like you’re “falling behind” or “losing momentum”. But just as in life, slowing down or changing direction doesn’t erase your growth—it deepens it.

Building new routines around your collecting, asking yourself what value it adds, and naming your fears openly can create grounding and clarity in the middle of uncertainty.

If you or someone you know is moving through uncertainty and want to create grounding routines and find clarity in the midst of change, then please feel free to schedule a consultation with me.

#CollectorsMD
Every transition—whether in life or in collecting—holds the chance to find new meaning if we face it with honesty and intention.

—
Follow us on Instagram: @collectorsmd
Subscribe to our Newsletter & Support Group
Join The Conversation On Mantel
Read More Daily Reflections