I Am An Obsessive Collector

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Part of my toy/collectibles/art room, unfortunately you can’t see all the stuff organized in the closet or in the cabinets behind me.

I collect too many things. I collect tons of toys/action figures/dolls/squishies/stuffed animals/minifigures (Barbie, My Little Pony, Sesame Street, Looney Tunes, Lego, Nickelodeon, Disney, Schleich, Funko Pops, Reborns, Cabbage Patch Dolls, Coraline, etc.) I have an entire room for all my toys and collectibles. I collect books, especially children’s books and books about subjects I am obsessed with, ranging from Michael Jackson, Nirvana, and Dance Moms, to art/artists, writing/writers, poetry, comics/manga, and antique books. The books also have a room of their own, which they share with my husband’s smaller but still sizable book collection (mostly history, true crime, and science fiction grace his shelves).

I have a huge collection of art supplies and stickers (which also get shoved into my extra “toy room”). I have a large collection of cds, especially from my favorite artists (MJ again, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Enya, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, 60’s 70’s & 90’s hits, Disney soundtracks, etc.)

I have an entire dresser drawer full of bookmarks, a wide selection of cute or nerdy notebooks/journals/stationery and a cabinet full of magickal/pagan themed objects I use for my little ritual altar. I also have a large collection of sentimental items I have saved ranging from photos to cards to letters to objects from loved ones who have passed on.

I am emotionally connected to many of the things I collect and the idea of parting with them is traumatic. I figure this need to collect things is part of the autistic side of me, but sometimes I become overwhelmed by the size of my own collections!

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marandarussell

Hi! I am an artist, author, and blogger who also happens to have Asperger’s Syndrome. I have won several awards and honors for my writings and artwork. I suffer from a few severe mental illness and chronic pain conditions (Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Fibromyalgia, CFS/ME, Ehlers Danlos, Degenerative Disc Disease, etc.), which greatly affects my life and makes me want to advocate for others going through similar things. Other interests of mine include reading, writing, drawing, watching cartoons and movies, collecting toys, hanging out with my family, and annoying my 3 cats.

27 thoughts on “I Am An Obsessive Collector”

  2. I think collections are important. I know everyone is trying to live an uncluttered life, but if you’re creative you have to have things around to inspire you. At least I do. I have cleaned out and moved so many times, I regret things I’ve lost along the way. I like having shelves and little things displayed, and lots, and lots of books. Just seeing them and remembering the stories makes me happy. And I have many books I read over and over — I Love my picture books. They are my anti-depressants. With my art, I switch things out — store things in the closet in spring, put up things that have been in storage out again. I have a lovely postcard art gallery in my bathroom. They make me happy. I don’t have to live a minimalist life. Things, toys, books — they help me cultivate delight.

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  6. Loved this post Maranda. We collector people know what we want. I loved collecting books. But I bought a Kindle and gave away five bookshelves to the local library. Though I still have three bookshelves of hard bound books to treasure. My wife loves build a bear, though she is a full grown adult. We have about 25 of various bears about the house. Save me from bears.

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  7. I can’t do that. I get too confused and muddled up and overwhelmed. I slept in this morning and had a panic attack because I couldn’t find a pair of matching shoes in the storage box of shoes that I keep under the bed. And I couldn’t find my keys or anything. LOL in panic mode, all normal “i should have been a hufflepuff” axioms prove me to be a liar lol

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  8. Love this post. I loved collecting stuff when I was younger. For some reason I even collected beer mats. But stopped a few years back. Son is now obsessed with collecting, doesn’t like letting things go. He loves just looking at collections. Lego figures, cuddly toy animals, dinosaurs, Wrestling stuff, football cards.

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  9. I love collecting too, Maranda ^^
    I think it’s genetic lol, because my Dad had loads of collections too – he was into coins, stamps, miniature cars. I’m into loads of things, quite often related to crafting. I have several sewing machines, dolls (both reborn types and BJDs); craft books galores, thimbles, bookmarks, buttons, yarn, fabric . . . and love being in my little sewing room where I am surrounded by so much “stuff” which, some people would consider “clutter” but to me, it’s all very important.

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