We’ve all been there. We start feeling really good about ourselves, thinking we can accomplish everything. We, understandably, set big goals—get up early, eat healthy, work out every day, maintain social engagements, excel at work, etc. And for a while, we manage to keep up with it all. But then, life happens. You have a tough day at work. You get into an argument with a partner, friend, or co-worker. You get sick and miss
Today on The Collector’s Compass, we sat down with Dr. Aakar “Rick” Shah, D.O.—a physician, lifelong collector, and someone who truly understands the addictive pull of the hobby. In our conversation, he introduced us to a powerful medical tool that translates surprisingly well into collecting: the CAGE questionnaire. Originally designed as a quick screening tool for alcohol use disorder, CAGE is just four simple questions—but when you apply them to the hobby, they can hit
The hobby moves fast. Very fast. Drops typically sell out in seconds, Dutch auctions bait us into panic buying, countdown timers push us toward impulsive decisions, and social feeds bombard us with highlights of what everyone else is buying or hitting out of latest product. With new, high-priced sets dropping at a relentless pace, the hobby quickly turns into a “flavor of the week”. Our attention spans shrink, and what felt like an exciting must-have
So often, the purchases we regret the most aren’t the ones we planned for—they’re the ones we made in the heat of an emotion. A fight with a partner. A stressful day at work. A painful memory resurfacing. Even something as simple as boredom or loneliness. These are the moments when our defenses are down and the urge to “fix” the feeling with a quick hit of excitement, distraction, or escape becomes strongest—without considering the
If you’ve ever loved an addict, you know it’s not just their battle—it becomes part of your life too. That’s why groups like Al-Anon, Gam-Anon, and Nar-Anon exist. They aren’t just there to “teach” you what your loved one is going through. They’re there to help you understand it on a deeper level—and hopefully move from understanding to empathy. Understanding vs. EmpathyUnderstanding is about knowing the facts: what the addiction is, how it works, what behaviors it causes. Empathy is
Are you a high-achieving professional experiencing burnout? You’re not alone. Many of my clients are high-achieving, high-performing individuals—executives, business owners, and leaders—who are incredibly successful in their careers, yet feel exhausted, anxious, and mentally drained. Often, these are the people everyone relies on for guidance, problem-solving, and leadership. They’re always “on”, constantly managing work, relationships, and personal commitments. Over time, this can lead to burnout, poor stress management, and the feeling of being unable to
A truth hurts for a minute. A lie hurts forever. This was one of the first mantras I heard when I started attending Gamblers Anonymous, and it’s stuck with me ever since. Those words are simple—but they hit deep. When I was addicted to spending money on cards, I kept it hidden. I lied to my wife. I lied to my friends. I lied to myself. I was drowning in shame and embarrassment. And when the
One of the hardest things to say out loud—sometimes even to ourselves—is: “I think I have a problem”. In a hobby built on hype, celebration, and curated mail days, admitting that collecting has started to hurt more than it helps can feel like betrayal. To the culture. To your image. To the version of you that once found joy in the chase. But the truth is, many of us have been there—struggling behind the scenes
When you’ve seen the worst of what the world has to offer—people exploiting others under the guise of helping—it’s hard to trust anyone again. Especially when you’ve worked in systems that were supposed to heal but were, in reality, built on manipulation, greed, and even abuse. That kind of experience changes you. It makes you skeptical, cautious, sharp-eyed. And rightfully so. But here’s the challenge: how do we stay vigilant without becoming jaded? How do
Words are used every day to describe ourselves, others, and the situations we’re in. In therapy, I often hear clients express their desire to become more confident, patient, or understanding—just to name a few. They’ll ask me, “How do I work on being more confident?” or “How can I become more patient?” My first response is to ask them, “What does that word mean to you?” It’s a deceptively simple question, but one that opens the door to clarity and progress.
What does success really look like in recovery? It’s easy to assume that progress means being “cured” or reaching some perfect version of yourself where the urges disappear and the mistakes stop. But recovery—real, lasting recovery—doesn’t look like that. Not even close. In Episode 5 of The Collector’s Compass, therapist Dayae Kim puts it beautifully: “success in recovery is not about never slipping—it’s about being vulnerable enough to acknowledge when you do.” That moment of
Over the years, I’ve binged—on food, on alcohol, on anything that could numb the stress, the anger, or the depression. Even powerlifting, which started as something healthy, eventually turned into a toxic outlet. I needed control. I needed relief. Between 2017 and 2019, I sold off large parts of my sports card collection. I was done with the hobby and had moved on. But when the sports card boom hit during the pandemic, it sent
