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trading Mental block

  • #1
  • First Post: Feb 26, 2020 12:51pm Feb 26, 2020 12:51pm
Is it me or can anyone else go from being able to see possible trades etc then to just stare at a screen like WTF to do next. I'm not sure if its as im trying a few new approaches but I seem to learn something new, make it work then bam braindead. if anyone else has this issue, how do you overcome it?
  • #2
  • Feb 26, 2020 1:12pm Feb 26, 2020 1:12pm
Quoting warrenk1
Is it me or can anyone else go from being able to see possible trades etc then to just stare at a screen like WTF to do next. I'm not sure if its as im trying a few new approaches but I seem to learn something new, make it work then bam braindead. if anyone else has this issue, how do you overcome it?
It happens because you dont have an structured aproach to trading.. i mean you dont have the steps clear in order to confirm what you are seeing its right/correct AND THEN proceed to click the buy/sell button..

how do you overcome that?

easy..

reading the price in itself have steps (right them down), then maybe confirm or not with the indicator you are using (just an example, not "needed") and if everything checks.. then go ahead and place the trade !! this aproach also gives you consistency long term and should give you positive results (only if the all the steps in the process its right and based on a true price reading)
  • #3
  • Feb 26, 2020 1:29pm Feb 26, 2020 1:29pm
Quoting havo
{quote} It happens because you dont have an structured aproach to trading.. i mean you dont have the steps clear in order to confirm what you are seeing its right/correct AND THEN proceed to click the buy/sell button.. how do you overcome that? easy.. reading the price in itself have steps (right them down), then maybe confirm or not with the indicator you are using (just an example, not "needed") and if everything checks.. then go ahead and place the trade !! this aproach also gives you consistency long term and should give you positive results...

thank you Havo, maybe my eagerness to learn may be a double edged sword sometimes. you are right I have forgotten a golden rule, stick to the plan if it works #still much to learn
  • #4
  • Feb 28, 2020 9:28am Feb 28, 2020 9:28am
Quoting warrenk1
Is it me or can anyone else go from being able to see possible trades etc then to just stare at a screen like WTF to do next. I'm not sure if its as im trying a few new approaches but I seem to learn something new, make it work then bam braindead. if anyone else has this issue, how do you overcome it?
Solution: make a simple step by step trading plan and follow it. Don't give up on it if it produces a loser, but look for ways to make it better. In other words, improve it. In time, you should have a solid trading plan with a better than average return.
Learn from your mistakes and march on.
  • #5
  • Feb 29, 2020 8:10am Feb 29, 2020 8:10am
Quoting here2there
{quote} Solution: make a simple step by step trading plan and follow it. Don't give up on it if it produces a loser, but look for ways to make it better. In other words, improve it. In time, you should have a solid trading plan with a better than average return.

Thank you, and yes I am writing out my plan as we speak. will record my process along the way.
  • #6
  • Mar 13, 2020 10:04pm Mar 13, 2020 10:04pm
Once you have your standard rules written on paper, then you can be a bit more creative if you want to. For instance, you can change an indicator's name to the rule you use when trading it. Or, you can use this attached file and write them to appear on your chart. You might need to understand a little code in order to make it work for you, but hopefully you can work it out. Good Luck.

Attached File(s)
File Type: mq4 Trading Comments.mq4   4 KB | 282 downloads
You cannot be extraordinary by being normal
  • #7
  • Mar 17, 2020 1:01pm Mar 17, 2020 1:01pm
Quoting dkrock
Once you have your standard rules written on paper, then you can be a bit more creative if you want to. For instance, you can change an indicator's name to the rule you use when trading it. Or, you can use this attached file and write them to appear on your chart. You might need to understand a little code in order to make it work for you, but hopefully you can work it out. Good Luck. {file}

Thank you dkrock! I don't understand code personally, but I have a friend that does. will check it out
  • #8
  • Mar 17, 2020 9:04pm Mar 17, 2020 9:04pm
Quoting warrenk1
{quote} Thank you dkrock! I don't understand code personally, but I have a friend that does. will check it out
If you open it, it is not difficult. You just type in your own message in place of the one there. Then change x and y values to place it on the chart where you want it. If you want to add lines, just copy and paste existing codes and modify as necessary to show a new instance. Piece of cake. Or, if you want to send me your rules, I can add them for you and then you just work on the positioning of it.
You cannot be extraordinary by being normal
  • #9
  • Mar 19, 2020 7:14pm Mar 19, 2020 7:14pm
dkrock Can you elaborate a bit more on how to use coding to help you trade. Right now my process is very manual with a lot of spreadsheets, is there a way to streamline information (e.g. buy/sell price, S/L, T/S, etc.)?
  • #10
  • Edited 3:18am Mar 20, 2020 2:45am | Edited 3:18am
Probably just me then...
A structured plan / thinking approach / trading plan / methodology to get into a trade "now" is useless and does not work at the instant you think you should place the trade when staring at the screen. The thinking is done way before the action (even if "way before" is a fraction of a second or 3 hours before)
Then there is no "staring at a screen like WTF to do next" because that part is already done and is no longer relevant as soon as you committed to one side.
Thinking while doing will really mess you up.
  • #11
  • Mar 20, 2020 2:02pm Mar 20, 2020 2:02pm
Quoting Mingary
Probably just me then... A structured plan / thinking approach / trading plan / methodology to get into a trade "now" is useless and does not work at the instant you think you should place the trade when staring at the screen. The thinking is done way before the action (even if "way before" is a fraction of a second or 3 hours before) Then there is no "staring at a screen like WTF to do next" because that part is already done and is no longer relevant as soon as you committed to one side. Thinking while doing will really mess you up.

Thank you Mingary. Yes I've recently realised this, my biggest problem was over thinking and not trusting the plan. I have made a conscious effort to not rush into anything with a good trading setup and so far has really helped. Has been my best trading month to date!!
  • #12
  • Mar 20, 2020 2:33pm Mar 20, 2020 2:33pm
  •  dmj120
  • | Joined Jan 2020 | Status: Newbie with professional aspiration | 108 Posts
Quoting Mingary
Probably just me then... A structured plan / thinking approach / trading plan / methodology to get into a trade "now" is useless and does not work at the instant you think you should place the trade when staring at the screen. The thinking is done way before the action (even if "way before" is a fraction of a second or 3 hours before) Then there is no "staring at a screen like WTF to do next" because that part is already done and is no longer relevant as soon as you committed to one side. Thinking while doing will really mess you up.
Well said. I've also found solace in the comfort that if I miss a trade because my entry point didn't hit, it is much better than "just getting in now" and being on the wrong side of the trade due to over-eagerness. Just rethink, process data/info/chart, setup, and wait.
School of hard knocks
dmj120 Return This Year: na
  • #13
  • Jun 8, 2020 12:06pm Jun 8, 2020 12:06pm
Everyone suffers from it once in a while. It is said that you can identify the origin of such a mental block by discussing about it. Putting it into words helps you analyze the source of the problem. It was a good idea to create this thread.
  • #14
  • Jun 10, 2020 11:38am Jun 10, 2020 11:38am
Units survive in the market, and over time they move away from active trading and prefer to spend more time on training beginners and issuing market reviews, because regular high emotional stress significantly suppress the mental structure, reduces its stability and leads to mental disorders.
Only purposeful work of a trader with his own emotions can be a way out of such a situation, the result of which is a calm state of mind at which a trader clearly defines and keeps the following points in high priority:
- Why do I engage in trading and what does it give me?
- How do I behave in each particular situation?
- How do I restore my physical and mental form?
- How do I stop the emerging experiences?
- How do I define external manipulations and protect myself from them?
- What qualities do I have to develop to be a successful trader?
Such work can take more time than learning trading techniques, but without it, successful trading, especially on a long time interval, is impossible and even dangerous.
It is difficult enough for units to do such work on their own, but they, putting control over emotions in the main, impose strict restrictions on certain behavioral patterns that arise as a result of emotions (for example, forced terminal blocking or ban on trading).
  • #15
  • Jun 10, 2020 11:51am Jun 10, 2020 11:51am
The same mistakes can be traced among almost all traders, which means that the mistakes are caused by something much deeper than personal experience.
The reason for mistakes is fear. Unfortunately, it turns out that when it comes to making decisions in the live market, instead of the brain zones responsible for rational thinking, the hypothalamus that solves the situation in the "beat or run" mode is used. Then the fear starts to guide the trader's movements.
Fear has considerable attention to the variants of actions considered by the brain, the natural aspiration of which is to provide survival, minimizing the risks.
Moreover, instead of concentrating on the long-term perspective, we always try to guarantee short-term profits. Social research confirms this: 75% of children would rather be given one candy today than two candies tomorrow.
However, this may distract you from a carefully planned trading strategy. Worse, it can lead you to make thoughtless decisions with the hope of reversing this losing trade, resulting in you losing a lot more money than you would have left if you had just left them in the game. Instead of focusing on the long-term plan, your mind wants to focus on making the most of this short-term losing position.
Being aware of the role of your own psychology during Forex trading, you will hand over to yourself the tools to fight fear, which will allow you to restore the primacy of healthy logic and cold calculation, so necessary in the market during trading.
  • #16
  • Oct 17, 2020 12:27pm Oct 17, 2020 12:27pm
Quoting Cogra
The same mistakes can be traced among almost all traders, which means that the mistakes are caused by something much deeper than personal experience. The reason for mistakes is fear. Unfortunately, it turns out that when it comes to making decisions in the live market, instead of the brain zones responsible for rational thinking, the hypothalamus that solves the situation in the "beat or run" mode is used. Then the fear starts to guide the trader's movements. Fear has considerable attention to the variants of actions considered by the brain, the...
I agree with you. You explain it nicely. Trader have to control their fear as well other negative emotion at the time of trading.
  • #17
  • Oct 19, 2020 5:23pm Oct 19, 2020 5:23pm
Trading Total Mind Game. If you keep a positive mindset, you will be saved from a lot of losses. Many traders are not able to trade with a lot of investment because they do not have positive emotions and mindset.
  • #18
  • Oct 20, 2020 4:17pm Oct 20, 2020 4:17pm
I find that having relaxing baroque music in the background helps to calm and soothe my nerves. If you feel too stressed up, walk away.
  • #19
  • Oct 21, 2020 5:50am Oct 21, 2020 5:50am
Quoting warrenk1
Is it me or can anyone else go from being able to see possible trades etc then to just stare at a screen like WTF to do next. I'm not sure if its as im trying a few new approaches but I seem to learn something new, make it work then bam braindead. if anyone else has this issue, how do you overcome it?
Yes there are some days it happened. Recently it happened with me. I was watching chart and it was like I'm not getting anything. Now again that phase has gone.
  • #20
  • Oct 25, 2020 3:29pm Oct 25, 2020 3:29pm
Taking a break and getting back with an improved state of mind can help with focussing on the trade. Reviewing the trading system also helps.
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