Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 52
  1. #1
    Astonishing Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    2,162

    Default Anyone Struggle with Comic Collecting addiction that can be bad?

    I do and well I can tell you I have struggling with a addiction with spending money on comics and anime which I should always save save save ........ brought majority of 90s clone saga Spidey and even some Big Time, superior, and Spiderverse. I also completed most of 80s 90s X-MEN. My parents been encouraging me to save and save and I don't do it, when I do earn money I blow it all away on comics and anime stuff. yeah I blew about half of my savings. Its a recurring problem. and brought new bags boards for those books so it would be nice clean and in order since Im obsessive compulsive. Ususally its triggered when I'm overcome with nostalgia for a simpler time of my childhood, and I wanted to buy things from that era. mostly the 90s
    especially while listening to 90s music that includes the likes of Eurodance, Video game music, and even songs that I never liked before but now appreciate now after watching more 90s documentaries and movies. like Greenday Basket Case or Weezer Bolly Holly. Watching Kevin Smith movies starting from Clerks and when I reached Mallrats, thats when I started going to comiccollectorlive, atomicavenue, mercari and ebay. Its a unhealthy habit, I have no self control or disciplined, I just need advice, the damaged the already been done, Im gonna set the goal starting to from now to the end of the new year, no more online orders, just spend money on essential like food, pet food, gas. It happened 2 years ago when I would watched comic video essays from the likes Owen likes Comics, Matt Draper, Every Kind of Geek, ect, and I would get really into a run like Ed Brubaker Captain America and buy the whole thing. Currently I'm tryng to say NO!!! to buying Matt Fraction Iron-man Run after watching Every Kind Geek well done video on it. I have to learn from Spidey to be more responsible especially with my finances, I'm thankful for my parents and how I live with them during these hard times but they are getting older and I also have 7 cats to take care of.
    Last edited by Rzerox21xx; 12-25-2021 at 03:22 PM.

  2. #2
    Relaunched, not rebooted! SJNeal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    San Jose, CA USA
    Posts
    6,612

    Default

    OCD and hoarding are often comorbid disorders, and it sounds like you may be presenting symptoms of both. Most likely the underlying issue is not comics, anime, or anything else you're spending money on - those are just the ways OCD/hoarding disorder manifest. That said, while it is good to set goals and limits on spending, these can be the equivalent of a smoker going "cold turkey" and aren't always successful.

    If aspects of your life (and your parents lives) are being disrupted by financial irresponsibility, I would highly recommend you look into cognitive behavioral therapy. There are many online resources available, and even some mobile apps, that could be helpful. Habits and behaviors are very hard to change, but there's no need to go it alone when you don't have to. Happy holidays, and best of luck to you!
    SJNeal
    Veteran Member
    Aug 2009
    7,869

    The CBR Community STANDARDS & RULES

  3. #3
    Astonishing Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    2,162

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SJNeal View Post
    OCD and hoarding are often comorbid disorders, and it sounds like you may be presenting symptoms of both. Most likely the underlying issue is not comics, anime, or anything else you're spending money on - those are just the ways OCD/hoarding disorder manifest. That said, while it is good to set goals and limits on spending, these can be the equivalent of a smoker going "cold turkey" and aren't always successful.

    If aspects of your life (and your parents lives) are being disrupted by financial irresponsibility, I would highly recommend you look into cognitive behavioral therapy. There are many online resources available, and even some mobile apps, that could be helpful. Habits and behaviors are very hard to change, but there's no need to go it alone when you don't have to. Happy holidays, and best of luck to you!

    I'm currently taking your advice and I will seek professional help on that around my area, my last therapist had to closed down due to the pandemic and haven't seen a therapist in over a year. well today is Christmas and tomorrow is Sunday I have to start Monday and discuss with my parents about it.

  4. #4
    Spectacular Member seusilva's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Sorocaba, Brasil
    Posts
    203

    Default

    I hope you are okay!! SJNeal gave great advice, it's always better to ask someone who knows how to better address the solution for help. On our own sometimes our solutions are slower and less efective. I've also been having a bit of trouble watching youtube too much, not buying products but spending too much of my time watching videos and not reading all I wanted, I need to find a solution too. Good luck my friend!!

  5. #5
    Astonishing Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    2,162

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by seusilva View Post
    I hope you are okay!! SJNeal gave great advice, it's always better to ask someone who knows how to better address the solution for help. On our own sometimes our solutions are slower and less efective. I've also been having a bit of trouble watching youtube too much, not buying products but spending too much of my time watching videos and not reading all I wanted, I need to find a solution too. Good luck my friend!!
    Thank you I actually got in contact with my previous therapist and I haven't seen her since the Pandemic and we gonna arrange something. maybe do phone or zoom. lets see, the office we use is closed because of the pandemic. yeah thanks.

  6. #6
    Fantastic Member Hive's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    279

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rzerox21xx View Post
    Ususally its triggered when I'm overcome with nostalgia for a simpler time of my childhood, and I wanted to buy things from that era.
    Oh I know this feeling all too well. Most of my hobbies are centered around the nostalgic feelings. I jumped into collecting Transformers (for the second time in adulthood) and G.I. Joe figures earlier this year for that reason and it's a huge part of what is my biggest hobby outside comics as well, namely collecting and building LEGO.

  7. #7
    Moderator Balakin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Dundee, Scotland
    Posts
    6,005

    Default

    I think it's great that you came here for advice and already seeking a solution. Zoom calls with therapists are very common these days and I heard from people who do them that it's effective.

    As a non therapy related, purely just practical advice: maybe try to look into reading digitally, on a tablet.
    I used to do that and it helped me transition out of collecting superhero comics, because when I took away the physical aspect of it (as in: "look at this beautiful hardcover!") I've realized after a while I don't particularly care for the genre any more.
    Now I just buy whatever seems good in whatever format (mainly from the LCS or a bookshop) and I spend way less on it but get more out of reading them.

    You can apply a similar logic to anime as well, I do collect some of those and other blu-rays too but having loads of anime on Netflix/prime/crunchyroll is a big help.

    Best of luck and let us know how the therapy is going, maybe someone else has similar problems (I bet there are many of us in the hobby) and could use a good example.

  8. #8
    Astonishing Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    2,015

    Default

    I've found using Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe helps combat my completist urges. Knowing that I can access all the new stuff and more and more old stuff means I can pass on buying all these books and concentrate only on the stuff I really love. I wound up cancelling several pre orders of big books once I got the service.

  9. #9
    Astonishing Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    2,162

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Balakin View Post
    I think it's great that you came here for advice and already seeking a solution. Zoom calls with therapists are very common these days and I heard from people who do them that it's effective.

    As a non therapy related, purely just practical advice: maybe try to look into reading digitally, on a tablet.
    I used to do that and it helped me transition out of collecting superhero comics, because when I took away the physical aspect of it (as in: "look at this beautiful hardcover!") I've realized after a while I don't particularly care for the genre any more.
    Now I just buy whatever seems good in whatever format (mainly from the LCS or a bookshop) and I spend way less on it but get more out of reading them.

    You can apply a similar logic to anime as well, I do collect some of those and other blu-rays too but having loads of anime on Netflix/prime/crunchyroll is a big help.

    Best of luck and let us know how the therapy is going, maybe someone else has similar problems (I bet there are many of us in the hobby) and could use a good example.
    Thanks, yeah at the beginning of the new year I will talk with my returning therapist, and yeah I guess the compulsive buying would tend to happened when I'm home alone and my parents are 2 weeks away from Colombia so there was a lack of accountability. I have actually been buying so much less anime lately compare in the past. Funimation would release seasons in 2 parts separate, now I'm no hurry and just buy when the whole season in one set during a sale. yeah I tried digital, I'm a old fossil, something about reading on a tablet and phone doesn't seem right. The fun thing about reading physical floppies, I like seeing the ads from that era, one of my last recent purchase was a issue of 90s Scarlet Spider that advertise a live viewing at a mall on the new Kevin Smith film Mallrats(which i mention having gotten into it and relating to the main character Brody). Yeah I get you, who knows, maybe one day I go digital but in the mean time, I like to support my local LCS and read my comics at hand, its just its just just binged buying back issues but also limiting my weekly titles. I had to cut off most of DC(only thinking to a few Bat titles Im enjoying)and stick to Marvel. I also have to control my urges whenever I watched video essays talking about how great a story from this writer artist is. Just cause I'm a Marvel zombie(proud of it) doesn't mean I have to get every single thing even if reviews has been good. I have to just stick to the ones Im invested in like the X-titles and Spider-titles and maybe a few outside of that like Ghost Rider, Hulk and Thor athough eventually I'm gonna have to cut those down too. Lets see, for now I have to managed this compulsive spending on back issues, I managed to cut down my figure collecting, I only brought 1 figure this year and it was Savage Land Rogue statue that was around 50(I used to be pretty bad, in collecting anime figures).

  10. #10
    see beauty in all things. charliehustle415's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    5,207

    Default

    I feel for you man, there's a lot of great info here.

    I myself had issues with hoarding and addiction and it took a long time for me purge everything; however, once I got the help I needed I stayed pretty good (for the most part) every now and then I have the urge to buy 1000s of dollars worth of statues, action figures, comics, and other collectibles and I found myself reaching out and walking off that ledge.

    I would definitely recommend after you seek professional help asking a trusted friend to be your "spotter" and whenever you get that itch hit them up and ask them to spot you because you feel like you're gonna go back down that rabbit hole. My best friend is always there whenever I feel that urge or they will see me starting to get manic and obsessive about something and talk me down.

    You should be very proud of yourself for recognizing and reaching out for advice and help.

  11. #11
    Extraordinary Member Captain Craig's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Nashville, TN
    Posts
    5,937

    Default

    At first I thought this was going to be a more light hearted thread like we've seen before. Where a poster is half serious but joking a bit as well.

    We all likely could do better at how we manage/budget money. What you laid out in your post sounds like you may indeed have a bigger issue, but not an untreatable one.
    SJNeal sounds like he knows something about this, it sounded informed to me. Try starting there.

    I'm going to make a possible rash or uncaring suggestion but it is well intended. Keeping up financially with 7 cats is itself a burden. Just the food and litter for a month must be a savings you could roll back into your account. That's not counting annual vet bills if you take them with any regularity. I get the cats are companions and you may need for other emotional aspects that so perhaps find homes for most of them and keep 1 or 2 cats. You can look into re-homing organizations in your area. I'd wager there are a few.
    "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings" - Optimus Prime

  12. #12
    Astonishing Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    2,162

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Captain Craig View Post
    At first I thought this was going to be a more light hearted thread like we've seen before. Where a poster is half serious but joking a bit as well.

    We all likely could do better at how we manage/budget money. What you laid out in your post sounds like you may indeed have a bigger issue, but not an untreatable one.
    SJNeal sounds like he knows something about this, it sounded informed to me. Try starting there.

    I'm going to make a possible rash or uncaring suggestion but it is well intended. Keeping up financially with 7 cats is itself a burden. Just the food and litter for a month must be a savings you could roll back into your account. That's not counting annual vet bills if you take them with any regularity. I get the cats are companions and you may need for other emotional aspects that so perhaps find homes for most of them and keep 1 or 2 cats. You can look into re-homing organizations in your area. I'd wager there are a few.
    I understand where you coming from, but don't worry, right now I live with my parents on a big house with decent size back yard and front yard. and neighbors who love our cats with their own as well. The thing is, everytime a stray wanders into our area, and its approachable, we get him/her spay or neuter and they end up staying with us. half our cats are indoor and the other half are outdoor who stay in our front door. I understand right now, i rely on my monthy disability and my parents paying me to do chores and taking care of the house and helping out with taking care of my mom and sister dog(yes in addition to the cats, but to be fair, the dog is theirs and the cats are mine). the thing that need to be done is controlling my impulse and im seeking help on that. i already came clean to my parents and they took it well, but they were on another country, but they are pretty supportive. in terms of vet bills and supplies. we split it 3 ways, athough we are dealing my cat Felicia who I had since 2012 having health problems which I been taking to the vet and giving her meds. so yeah even more so, i shouldn't be spending money on back issues or anime. so far i haven't brought anything besides groceries since I made this post, so its a start. I will speak to my therapist. I also have to improve on my health, exercise and eating better which the therapist will help out and my parents will keep me accountable. but yeah thank you for the advice, I understand but yeah, these cats been with me for years, with the oldest a more than a decade and the youngest, having her since the 2nd Guardians Galaxy movie in 2017.

  13. #13
    Astonishing Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    2,162

    Default

    Well despite facing some temptation on online stores, I still haven't brought anything online and only spent my money on actual stuff I need like gas and groceries. I know my weekly pull list invoice is coming up this weekend. the next step would be cutting the fat off my pull list which sucks because I feel bad that i won't be supporting writers I like. for example. I have to cut out 1 of the 2 Kelly Thompson titles(big fan of her writing) Black Widow or Captain Marvel, I think Im going to keep Black Widow which I'm enjoying more and I'm not as invested on Carol as I am Natasha. the one DC title I follow is Batman but to be honest, as much as I'm liking Tamaki Detective run, I don't think i can support a 12 week straight 4.99 book in addition to the other books I get, it adds up in expenses.
    Last edited by Rzerox21xx; 12-30-2021 at 10:05 AM.

  14. #14
    Astonishing Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    2,162

    Default

    Well I went on the wagon and made some online orders, not good, have to pick myself out and yeah gonna get a camera installed on my desktop to talk to my therapist, setback but salvageable. I'm also budgeting my pull list, cutting back on books, using combination of what I enjoyed plus whats getting great reviews. well I get books based if I'm interested i the characters, and if Im a fan of the writer and artist, outside x-men and spidey which I definitely get. My problem is when i see a gap in my collection like my Slott Spidey run or 90s clone saga, it gives me the urge to order it and yeah I have to maintain some control. a average 20 dollar pull list week should be healthy while 30 might be going too much. it depends what books come out that week. Dealing with 2 old cats with health problems and have to save money and motivation to spend less. fortunately I have my parents who help me pick up the slack but they are in their 70s and wont be around forever.

    Im trying to rationalize in maintain a sizeable pull list, i think dropping the 2 Aaron Avengers books despite being a fan of the writer, his run has been mostly disliked and always negative around here, I drop Captain Marvel and only getting black widow for Kelly Thompsons writing. Decided not to get the weekly 12 part Detective comics because 4.99 for those 12 weeks add up despite being a fan of Mariko Tamaki writing, I already drop all DC books saved Batman, Nightwing and Robin and I'm questioning if there should be a jumping off point after a storyline ends ect
    Last edited by Rzerox21xx; 01-10-2022 at 10:54 AM.

  15. #15
    Relaunched, not rebooted! SJNeal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    San Jose, CA USA
    Posts
    6,612

    Default

    One thing I came to learn over time is that if I'm looking for a reason to drop a title (new creative team, ending arc, etc) I've probably already lost interest without realizing it.

    If I loved the book and had no interest in dropping it, it never would cross my mind as a potential cut in the first place.
    SJNeal
    Veteran Member
    Aug 2009
    7,869

    The CBR Community STANDARDS & RULES

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •