Let's Talk Mental Health and Collecting! - Part 1

[@StevensToyReviews]

I absolutely did not anticipate this video to turn into "let me vent/express in the comments" but PLEASE do go off, share your stories, you're not alone

[@Reach008]

I respect this video a lot. Honestly I’ve been collecting my whole life and there’s been times where I’m buying constantly and others where it’s a dry sprout. Last month I made it a mission to not buy a single figure and I did it! I want to control myself and leave it to just pre orders and not last minute purchases. I didn’t purge so many figures just to get back to where I was, I want to appreciate what I have and am anticipating, not in the moment splurges.

[@joshuaalonzo2499]

I have been battling with depression for the past 3 years. Before then, I had one or two Star Wars Hot Toys figures, LEGO and SHMA figures. In these past years my collection has grown massively. Getting a new figure became that occasional moment of joy that I wasn't finding anywhere else. My collection is now really one of the few things Im proud of and that I can look at and feel accomplished. Looking at my journey of collecting, I think it comes from a place where it's all interests of mine from when I was a child. Now it can sometimes feel like I only started my collection because I am trying to go back to when I was a child and happy, but right now organizing and displaying my collection is one of the few things I can have fun doing. I love getting a new figure, because it means I get to change up my display and see what looks best to show off the new figure. It becomes a game to me, even sometimes a challenge, and allows me to change things up. As someone who has a hard time having things be the same for too long, adjusting the display really helps scratch that itch. As for the financial side of collecting, I definitely still make it a point to stick to certain brands and only getting figures I really want. It helps with planning out how i'm going to save for, or paying off, a figure. I also have a very limited amount of display space which has forced me to say if its not a figure I really want, and is just one that would be cool to have, then don't get it. Save the space and money for a figure I really want.

[@ju87d-3stuka7]

I feel the same way. Collecting has become a coping mechanism because I simply can't find joy in life. Buying a figure gives me something to look forward to.

[@chinoyomaji288]

Once my roommate came up to me and was concerned how many bbts boxes come in every month, thats when he asked me if i was doing alright, i started to realize "rewarding myself" was becoming an issue.

[@GodzillaTitus]

Does the average toy collector really spend 500 dollars a month? I have only spent 126 dollars on my whole collection (witch has been about a year of buying stuff. I'm very curious

[@StevensToyReviews]

Perspective: 10 Marvel Legends may be $250. 1 Gigantic Series X-Plus, with shipping, may push $1,000. Something to keep in mind.

[@shin_godzillas_toy_reviews]

I spended 300 dollars for my entire collection, but it's now worth 400 :)

[@GodzillaTitus]

Ok, that's good to know. I wasn't going completely insane

[@80sbabycollection26]

The start of my collecting was an absolute response to mental health. Chasing my childhood and it has helped tremendously. The sense of community also helps. I also enjoy small “target” sessions where I say I’m hunting a group of figures for example, Godzilla vs Gigan. Find all the monsters from that movie. Just an example. The only thing that messes with my mental health in the collecting aspect is the house I live is I’m renting. I’m currently in a journey to buy a home and when I have a collection space that will truly be mine to set up how I want it’s going to be the greatest positive mental health impact ever!

[@dtalksboutstuff]

I love this video, I take this kinda stuff very seriously and to see representation and correlation drawn between this hobby and mental health is really great. The amount of people collecting is growing more and more so this kind of guidance is perfect.

[@giantalex1694]

I am nervous to share, but I love that you brought this up. I started collecting July 2018. I have stuff ranging from SW Black Series, Resident Evil Neca, Nanmu, Xplus, Hot Toys, and more. I used to budget it really well. I would only get what I wanted it. That started out small and just grew so much. July 2018 to now May 2024 I am pushing 6 years of collecting. Looking back I do wish I stuck to only a couple things I liked. My Father passed away March 2023. Before he passed I feel I used collecting to help me feel better about his looming passing and lied to myself he would never leave. We all don't want to see a loved one go. I used to draw all the time I did it more than collect at a time till my father was diagnosed with cancer. I lost my zest to create and draw. Collecting helped me feel better about an inevitability that was coming. I knew I shouldn't have even been buying anything I used to save my money and not spend it on anything a new video game or art supplies not much at all. I was depressed my dad was my best friend. I miss our talks I miss telling him about new figures coming out or ones I bought. The art I was making too. He knew I was saving money in what ways I did. I am a home owner now, I need to maintain the house he left me. Bills to pay too. Since he passed its been terrible trying to come to terms with it, its the worst thing to happen to me. My anxiety has been spiking not from just collecting. I collect still and have been wanting to cap it. I preorder figures so that I can save money in some way by waiting for the figure instead of impluse buying. My girlfriend says I need to relax with it. She doesn't want me to give up something I enjoy. I agree, I am a bit addicted to it in a way too. Recently I have been in the dumps thinking I can't change, like my anxiety will just get worse, my ocd won't change, I'll be behind on bills, and be stuck in a toy pile. My girlfriend says I need to believe in myself and be more confident. She has suggested talking to someone too therapy. I am still considering that. But its an option for someone no doubt. I wanted to change, started watching positive and motivational videos to help me, on top of my gf inspiring me. That has definitely helped. I have canceled preorders now because I don't need more stuff right now. I have started rotation my collection as Steven has suggested/mentioned. Whatever you feel is overwhelming you, making you anxious and depressed, you are in control of changing it. However you wanna go about that change. Stay positive and believe in yourself. It takes time be patient with it like we are waiting for the next toy to come out. That is what has helped me recently. This is a fun hobby we should treat it as such. Thank you for discussing this topic Steven!

[@dragonman1009]

Appreciate the video man especially the segment about FOMO and just letting it go if you cant get it 👍

[@Havok91]

I've been in a drought for two years, thanks to financial misfortune and mistakes. Spending more than I could keep up with because of the dopamine rush and my depression. Which, of course, increased my anxiety and depression. I'm recovering now, but it was such a nightmare. This video is massively helpful.

[@elliotgandersen]

This is good advice thanks for sharing! I like the last point, just have fun and find new ways to have more fun!

[@Toy_Tomb]

I really do hope you make more of these

[@StevensToyReviews]

Appreciate it! I have ideas for two others right now, I want to incorporate more academic research into it so that way it has a bit more of a robust feel.

[@g1rldraco7]

This video is a wake up call to collectors. It definitely opened my eyes and I need to make some changes in my collecting habits.

[@thejuggerthot]

thanks for tackling this subject! its something ive worked on with my therapist, feels good to get that dopamine hit opening a new package and figures but do i really need that all the time?

[@plexfamily]

Steven... Thank you this really helped me realized that i can do things about my mental health and my collection addiction. And how to fix some small problems how fun. But also how i can still have fun with it. Thank you truely thank you

[@enriquemartinez9774]

this was nice, thank you

[@KiryuNashi]

I've come to the point where I have the mindset to pick up only what I really REALLY want and would be devestated were I to miss it. This has helped a lot not only financially but also when it comes to space. It is your collection at the end of the day, and comparing yourself to different people who you don't really know is bound to kill your joy in this hobby.

[@jimmyaveragefoot1257]

I wanted to thank you for this video, I have been really struggling with my collection lately and the tips you gave in this video I feel will be very helpful. Particularly the rotation of collectibles as well as letting a preorder pass. It will be so difficult to do but I think it will help my mindset out a lot… as well as my wallet

[@KouNasubi]

This video is great, looking forward to more once they come out. I think for me grappling with the FOMO of new releases is always the hardest part (I collect a few different things), so it’s nice to have the thought process and best practice laid out.

[@KOAHUNT3R]

I started collecting around 3 years ago. It became rather unhealthy for awhile. I didn't understand why I was buying everything I could, and financially it hurt me. I think what I came down to was that I was feeling I had nothing to show for my life. I had been in a loveless marriage for six years, no children, no property, going through a faith crisis, and just breaking my back for 40-60 hours a week, for a life that wasn't going anywhere. So to make up for it, I started buying things to fill a pretty big hole in an effort to say I accomplished something. I'm doing better now. Going through a divorce, which sucks, but it's going to be a fresh start. I've also been doing a lot of self care, and doing therapy. Unfortunately, my ex is living in the apartment with all of my things, but that should change in a couple months and I got a lot of organizing and selling that I'm very much looking forward to.

[@newwavejunkie]

I used to collect mostly Lego and a few Neca Godzilla and movie TMNT figures. Then the pandemic hit and I started working from home and I found myself hitting multiple action figure lines hard-MOTU Origins, GI Joe Classified, Hasbro Indiana Jones, a few other lines here and there-chasing a fleeting feeling of satisfaction. I just spent $600 during Target’s Haul-a-thon mostly for FOMO. I’m feeling completely overwhelmed by my collection now. Too many things, not enough space to display it all, and stressed over deciding what to display. After watching your video I decided to box up all but 2 of my Classified figures and already feel relieved to not see them.

[@ConanSmoke]

Theres this new video floating around called “nightmare level gooners” im not saying this community is the same thing as that but i would be very curious to hear stevens take on that particular subject matter…

[@Nathaniel575]

Do u know where to get the super7 destroyah

[@gidget7334]

Steven, why did my ex-girlfriend say she didn't love me anymore and then cheat? Also i got a funko pop collection of only Jurassic Park dinos and godzilla

[@saragodak6226]

Under 30 minute gang 👇

[@kids-rd4yy]

bruh