What do 90’s Mcdonalds’ toys, vintage ceramic rabbits, Lego sets, Star Wars memorabilia, and an enormous amount of Care Bears items all have in common?

They bring me joy… And I don’t care what anyone thinks about it.

Yes, I’m a 40-year-old adult and my home is so full of colourful collections that some would consider it an assault on the senses. Yet, to me it’s much more than chaos, my vibrant clutter has significant personal meaning, and is even a tool that helps me with my diagnoses of Major Depression and Complex Trauma.

You read correctly my collections help me to maintain my mental health. I’d love to share why.

1. Makes my Inner Child Happy

I experienced childhood trauma and have a diagnosis of CPTSD. It should come as no surprise then that I’ve done a lot of internal work in therapy and on my own in relation to my younger years. A part of that journey for me includes looking for the things that once made me happy as a child, helped me in difficult times, or considered what was missing.

I’ve learned that supporting the inner child in me is a very valuable form of healing. My massive collection of Care Bears is very much related to this, it brings with it a lot of comforts.

2. Gives me purpose.

Lack of motivation is a symptom that can come with depression, and I deal with that in my life. This can look a lot of ways but for me, it usually comes down to the basics. I struggle to get out of bed, with feeding myself, or even with keeping entertained.

Oddly enough, I can honestly say that even at my worst, I cannot resist a trip to the thrift store to hunt for my treasures. It helps that I have particular things that I’m looking for which allows me to focus, but I also enjoy the surprises.

3. Creates connections

I’ve written before about the importance of community and belonging when it comes to mental wellness, and how connecting with fellow fans can be a way to do this. I see this in the same light. When my mental health is not at its best it can be difficult for me to rely on and trust in others, yet here again, my treasure trove helps me with this.

I belong to some social media groups dedicated to particular types of collecting and love seeing other folks’ cool stuff and the happiness it brings them. But even better is that in the real-world people are always finding me things or letting me know about something they spotted that reminds them of me. Truthfully, it feels nice to be thought of. I also do the same in return for my friends, and we also go together to look for thrifty scores. I’m really grateful that connection is a byproduct of all this, it helps me a lot.

4. I just like it.

…And that’s a good enough reason as any. I have always been a somewhat quirky human and for the most part also pretty unashamed of it. If someone wants to judge me because I go out and about with my Care Bears backpack or get giddy when I spot another ceramic rabbit – then have at it, I don’t care. The truth is though, more often than not I receive compliments, smiles, and learn about what other folks are into. Those who might look down on me, think it’s childish, or roll their eyes – just aren’t my people and I can live with that.

I know what I like, and I also know that my collections bring me joy, comfort, a sense of safety and so much more. I own it, and love the colour it brings into my life.

Yes, being a collector helps me maintain my mental health. Yet I know that doing this is not an option for everyone, and likewise, I’m not suggesting that it is a cure-all. Some folks are just not maximalists, and that’s okay! Having all sorts of trinkets could cause some folks to feel too disorganized or stressed, others may simply not have the space, time, or money to do such. That is all understandable, I just ask for the same grace when it comes to me.

I don’t collect outside of my means, as far as my finances go, though I’m sure I spend plenty of money on what some consider to be nonsense. I’m not an especially tidy person, but this does not venture into hoarding. And while I do get some dopamine hits after a good find and I can get a little carried away, it is not a matter of compulsive shopping. In my world, it’s both healthy and positive.

Also, just so we’re all clear I also maintain a wide variety of other treatments such as therapy, medications, and rTMS, so it’s not as though my dragon’s horde is what is keeping me entirely well.

But it doesn’t hurt either.

This article was originally posted on The CPTSD Foundation.