I Started This Because I Needed It

But somewhere along the way, that excitement turned into obsession.
What started as fun became compulsive. I was chasing more than just cards—I was chasing dopamine, distraction, validation. And I didn’t realize how far it had gone until it was too late.

I found myself in financial ruin.
Owing money to breakers. Stressed, ashamed and spiraling.

And what made it worse?
There was nowhere to turn.

I tried looking into support groups. I saw psychiatrists. I saw therapists. I attended Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meetings for a few years. I even sought outpatient treatment at a specialized facility that focused on problematic gambling addiction. But while some stories resonated in these rooms, I always felt a bit out of place. I had stopped gambling on sports. I no longer spent hours chasing my losses in live blackjack rooms. Those things no longer did it for me. Sports cards were (and still are) my kryptonite.
I spent my hard earned money—and quite often money I didn’t have on wax—and watched my life unravel in real time.

That’s why I created Collectors MD.
Not as a business move. Not as a viral trend. But as a form of self-therapy.
A way to turn the damage I’ve done—to myself, and maybe to others—into something useful, something positive, something real.

Collectors MD is for anyone who’s ever:

• Spent money they didn’t have on breaks.
• Lied to themselves or others about what they’ve spent.
• Felt the rush and then the regret.
• Felt too ashamed to ask for help.
• Wanted to stop but didn’t know how.

We are not anti-hobby.
We’re pro-accountability.
We still love collecting—we just believe you shouldn’t have to lose yourself to love it.

Card breaking is unregulated. It mimics gambling in all the same ways—instant gratification, randomness, big swings, compulsive behavior. And yet, no one’s watching. No one’s protecting consumers. It’s the Wild West.

That doesn’t mean everyone who breaks has a problem.
But some do. And no one’s talking about them.

Until now.

This is the beginning of a movement—one focused on support, education and eventually, reform. A place where we can speak honestly, find balance and create real change inside the hobby we care so deeply about.

If you’re struggling, I see you.
If you feel alone, you’re not.
And if you’re wondering if there’s a better way—there is.

#CollectorsMD
Let’s break free from breaking. Together.

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