Published November 24, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

There is a quiet exhaustion settling over the hobby, and it’s not just coming from too many releases or too much product. It’s also coming from the growing realization that integrity keeps being compromised in plain sight. Shill bidding has become one of the most damaging forces shaping the current hobby landscape, not because it exists, but because it keeps being normalized, excused, or quietly ignored. Every scandal, every exposed pattern, every “technical issue” chips away at the foundation our hobby is built on—trust.

When bids are manipulated, nothing feels real anymore. Prices stop reflecting genuine demand and start being driven by artificial pressure, manufactured urgency, and silent coordination. Collectors begin questioning every outcome, every “win”, every record sale. And when that doubt settles in, it doesn’t stay contained to one platform or one seller—it spreads outward, slowly contaminating the emotional safety that made collecting meaningful in the first place.

A culture of inflated clicks and invisible hands doesn’t just distort prices—it skews perception. Every artificial bid fuels a false sense of momentum, pulling genuine collectors into a game that looks competitive on the surface but is hollow at its core. What should feel like passion becomes performance, and what should feel earned starts to feel engineered. This is how trust erodes quietly, one manipulated auction at a time.

What hurts most isn’t just the financial fallout—it’s the psychological impact. The feeling that the game is rigged reawakens the same compulsive instincts many of us are trying to move away from. Instead of collecting with joy, we start chasing something as fundamental as fairness—a standard that should have never been up for debate. Instead of celebrating the hobby, we brace for disappointment. And in that emotional tension, the line between participation and self-protection becomes harder to see.

But this moment also creates clarity. It forces us to ask better questions. It reminds us that silence enables harm. It challenges us to stop accepting “this is just how it is” as a permanent condition. A healthy hobby cannot exist without accountability, transparency, and real oversight. We cannot keep glorifying inflated results and manipulated markets while pretending the consequences will stay invisible.

At Collectors MD, we believe that awareness isn’t about fear—it’s about empowerment. Choosing intention over impulse means recognizing when something feels off and being willing to take a step back instead of leaning further in. It means valuing long-term stability over short-term adrenaline. And it means understanding that protecting the integrity of this space is not the responsibility of a few—it belongs to all of us.

The hobby does not heal through denial. It heals when the community decides that honesty matters more than hype. And we can’t allow a handful of bad actors to define the integrity of an entire community.

#CollectorsMD
A market without honesty does not just lose money—it loses meaning.

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Published October 02, 2025 | By Dayae Kim, LMFT, Collectors MD Referral Network

Building and maintaining trust is essential for any healthy relationship. For couples who experience anxiety, however, trust can feel elusive, even unattainable. Building trust seems like a daunting, life-altering decision rather than a gradual and intentional process.

But building trust doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can be simpler and more approachable than you might think.

When trust is strained, many of us retreat into our own minds, spinning scenarios and assumptions about what our partner is thinking or doing. These thoughts can fuel feelings of anxiety, which in turn influence how we react toward our partner. Often, this reaction does not reflect what we truly feel inside.

Trust isn’t built in silence—it’s built in the moments we choose to walk beside each other, even when fear and doubt try to pull us apart.

In one of my sessions, I worked with a couple navigating these challenges. Early in their relationship, an incident led to mistrust and lingering anxiety for both partners. While they were committed to rebuilding trust, their anxiety often triggered defensive and judgmental reactions. Their words came out as jabs and accusations, but beneath these outbursts were unspoken feelings of fear, uncertainty, and pain from the past.

To help, I encouraged each partner to openly share their thought process. What was the first thought that triggered their anxiety and mistrust? How did those initial thoughts evolve into hurtful comments?

By verbalizing these internal experiences, the couple gained insight into each other’s feelings. This practice allowed them to let down their guards and hold space for vulnerability. In that session, instead of attacking one another, they comforted each other. They saw the pain behind the words and responded with empathy rather than defensiveness.

So how can we apply this in our own relationship?

• Identify Your Triggers: Reflect on the thoughts and feelings that arise when you feel anxious or distrustful.

• Share Your Thoughts and Feelings: Communicate what’s happening internally, even if it feels uncomfortable.

• Create a Safe Space: Build an environment for expression without judgment.

• Work Together: Use these conversations to address the root causes of anxiety and mistrust.

Building trust is about connection. Inviting your partner into your thought process, even when it’s messy or uncertain, is a powerful way to strengthen your bond. It’s okay to feel hesitant to share your struggles, but vulnerability builds empathy and deeper trust. Even when mistakes happen, your partner is more likely to respond with understanding because they see the intention behind your actions. Trust isn’t built in grand gestures; it grows through everyday choices to let your partner see and support the real you.

And just as trust is tested in our closest relationships, it’s often tested in the hobby. Collecting in secret, overspending behind a loved one’s back, or hiding financial struggles creates a distance that feels almost impossible to repair. Addiction thrives in secrecy—trust thrives in honesty. Rebuilding it means owning our triggers, sharing openly, and creating guardrails that let our partners back into the process. The same daily choices that make a marriage more resilient are the ones that make recovery sustainable: honesty, accountability, and the willingness to be seen, even in our messiness.

If you or someone you know is looking to start therapy or seeking a new therapist, you’re always welcome to schedule a consultation with me.

#CollectorsMD
Trust grows when secrecy ends—and accountability begins.

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