**THREAD**

I write a thread like this basically once a quarter but I feel like the last 2 weeks is a great opportunity to reinforce the feelings and thoughts around a great topic:

T R A D I N G - A D D I C T I O N

LFG Thread Boyz.

Addiction and Trading go hand in hand.

The feeling for the potential to make money is STRONG. Couple that with the environment you sit in everyday (Twitter) and you've got a recipe that ensures you'll always keep an eye on the charts.

I don't want you to get all scared about me using the word "addiction" as though you're some crack-riddle junkie.

I'm addicted, the majority in this space would probably also slap that tag on themselves.

I want to blast through some topics, show that we're all aligned and hopefully provide some information to try and allow you to feel more comfortable in stepping away (should you wish to - and believe me it's healthy to do.)

1. Market Conditions and an Inability to Step Away

Classic.

Volatility breeds addiction, it nurtures a need to be at the screen, monitoring price.

A very common example of this is waiting and staring at LTF charts for a "breakout" which never comes.

1a. But you wait and wait. You won't step away, you won't go make a coffee, you'll just stare.

This process can often go on for hours.

The market conditions means that you find it hard to complete other activities.

1b. This then spills over. Your wife is nagging you to do a job, you do it, but your phone is in hand, waiting for that same breakout, scared you'll miss the action.

Mowing the lawn.
Browsing TradingView.

(Apologies if this is eerily familiar, but I've been in that situation.)

1c. Add to the fact that often you can become irritable, unproductive and usually inefficient in your execution.

You could be using this time to work on a strategy, backtest, hone your edge, but you're just sitting with a blank look on your face.

2. So you see the need/want to stay at a screen staring actually comes from a psychological condition. We condition ourselves to believe that we are staring at a money making opportunity.

We do not consider time cost, or in fact, that we could just be wrong in our analysis.

2b. We sit and stare because we have a positive expected outcome. We are CONVINCED this breaks up/down and we're just waiting until the $ hit our account balance.

So our expected reward keeps us glued. If it doesn't happen, we simple wait for the next opportunity.

2c. We often never examine or discuss the implication of all of the wasted time we spend monitoring charts and sitting and waiting in volatile situations for the next "major move" that we feel "guarantees" us making money.

You have to acknowledge you might be wrong.

2d. So in summary.

- Acknowledge what you're staring at isn't always free money.
- Are you unproductive or affecting other areas of your life by being glued to a screen in anticipation (sorry to put this one in but it's true)
- Staying up late?
- On your phone too much?

3. Alright so if I'm hitting home good.

Let me hit you with some more things you do:

- Browse charts when watching TV with a partner.
- Browse charts when out at a meal.
- Browse charts when out for drinks.
- Browse charts while at work.
- Browse charts while with friends.

4. Let's keep going and see how well I'm doing:

- Tell your loved ones you're "working", despite just browsing some bullshit alt.
- Tell your loved ones "it's important."
- Try to explain the seriousness of it to your loved ones.
- Use financial terms to further highlight.

5. So, the reason I put all of that there, is I speak from experience. My experience.

I say it because I feel I have to justify it. I have to justify it to myself most of all. I don't need to be browsing charts, but I am, I'm supposed to be with friends, but I'm on my phone.

6. Seeking justification for your own actions is another sure-fire way you're probably overexposed to the market.

Lying or stretching the truth is a way we try to overcome that to ourselves and to others.

Enough of the comparisons, what about the helpful stuff?

Well, crypto is 24/7 and it fucking sucks dick because of that. Really bad. Awful.

You are managing your finances (especially if you have too much invested or in a trade) constantly.

That's not healthy.

As many of you know I trade equities markets as my primary markets but the reason is that I get time off. Markets close, weekends are free and I don't need to worry about Asian whales nuking while I'm eating my roast dinner and saying my prayers on Sunday.

You can reduce your need to be at a screen or trading by:

- Ensuring you're not overexposed (protect your finances)
- Do not enter huge positions or leveraged positions
- Do not trade before bed or leave things overnight (if you're primarily an intra-day trader)

- Don't enter positions as a form of betting (EG. Wake up, look at charts, need dopamine hit with coffee, enter random position)
- Look for sensible opportunities to manage your crypto portfolio (selling downtrends/rebuying uptrends)

Most importantly (and take this from someone who recently took a month off)

THE MARKET IS ALWAYS THERE.

If you leave for 3 weeks or 3 months, you'll come back to a market to trade.

Many people assume they'll miss a HUGE run and get a fomo addiction. Condition it out.

Your performance will be affected if you're burnt out. 24/7 trading will ruin you. If your boss asked you for 24/7 attention you'd tell him to fuck off. This is work too. It requires mental agility and flexibility that cannot be sustained 24 hours a day.

This thread became insanely huge so I'm going to end up here.

Look the summary of this is, be healthy, do what you think is best but ffs don't ruin your relationships, family, finances, social life, healthy in pursuit of a shitcoin that runs for a 2x.

Trading addiction is real, we have alts, majors and now we have uniswap. New shit all the time, more stuff to browse, more stuff to lose money on.

Protect yourself, take breaks, the market will be there for you.

Peace.

Can you believe there's actually shit I forgot to add to this?

Well, there is.

I recently started playing Classic WoW - a couple of reasons, I miss it and it gives me a nice relaxing venture outside of charting/trading.

Remember before trading there was stuff you used to occupy your free time with.

Friends
Gaming
Hobbies

Whatever it was. Why not pick some of it back up and enjoy it?

Don't become the guy who's always on his phone and can't enjoy life or other activities.

End.