Trading isn’t as easy as we outwardly think it to be. It’s an ongoing challenge where you always have to perform. One single mistake can destroy your entire struggle. Sometimes it’s really difficult to pull back from loophole and anxiety peeps out very frequently.
1 Like
IMO, if you’re feeling anxiety while trading then there is something wrong. You’re either taking on too much risk, too much leverage, too large position size, trading too short of a timeframe for your personality, trading too often or all of the above.
Emotions and anxiety will get in the way of clear decision making and increase the probability of making costly mistakes.
An emotional / anxious trader will not last long in this business. I’d recommend reducing risk, position size, leverage, how often you take trades and / or trading longer time horizons until the anxiety level comes down and trading verges on the edge of being boring. Then focus on actually learning and developing trading skills.
1 Like
I’m not sure if I’m in the position to comment on this, but I think it might help lessen the anxiety you feel when you stop thinking of mistakes as threats that can ruin everything you’ve worked for. 
A mistake in one trade is a learning opportunity for another. 
3 Likes
I had made a similar thread cause I had the same question, looking at some of the answers here, I may have a solution to my problem. Maybe taking too much risk is the issue and if it was lesser risk it wouldn’t be as bad, I’ll follow that advice.
Trading is indeed a complex and high-pressure endeavor. The constant demand for performance can lead to anxiety, especially after a mistake. Acknowledging these challenges is crucial; it’s important to develop resilience and effective coping strategies. Maintaining a balanced mindset can help navigate the ups and downs while fostering long-term success.
Well said. I would like to add that if you’re trading in a way where one single mistake can destroy everything you worked for, then that is not trading, that is gambling, i.e. all or nothing. It will also psychologically destroy a trader, if not a single mistake is allowed.
Traders will never stop making mistakes, even after 30+ years. A trader’s trading plan, strategy, philosophy (or whatever we want to call it) should allow for many mistakes without wiping out the gains or the account. This business requires learning defense first before going on the offense, it’s how you stay in the game long term to give yourself the opportunity to succeed.
I agree. Every trader makes mistakes, but the important part is using them to learn and improve. If you approach trading with the mindset that each loss or error is a chance to grow, it can make the process feel less intimidating and more manageable.
Trading can really mess with your head, and it’s tough when anxiety shows up, especially after all the hard work you’ve put in.