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I will answer your trading psychology questions for no charge

  • #1
  • First Post: Edited 1:47pm Nov 21, 2025 11:54am | Edited 1:47pm
Inspired by the idea from the programming thread, I created this one — you can ask anything, and there’s a good chance I might know the answer. I’m still learning a lot myself, but I also know quite a bit. Now I’m moving toward building automated systems, and it would be a shame to let something I’ve worked with for many years (more than 10) be forgotten.
This is that thread: forexfactory.com/thread/166758-i-will-code-your-eas-and-indicators-for

What is your the most pressing problem now?

What you would like to know?

Example questions.

How do you build discipline in trading?
What is a trader’s process and why is it so important?
How do top traders react to losses — and what has experience taught them?

Anything that comes to your mind.

Specific questions about specific problems are better than general imho.

To start, I just want to say that according to many experts, 80–90% of problems in the early phase of trading (which can last many years) come from not having a proven system. That’s why before we get into psychology — we must have a good, tested system.

Questions can be from any level: beginner, intermediate, or fund-level trader. No DM please.

I invite everyone to respond as well, please. There are many very experienced traders here who are willing to share their knowledge. Psychological topics are scattered everywhere, so maybe they will appear in this thread and provide a solid foundation for the traders reading it.

Please don't consider anything in this thread as a prosessional advice, I am not qualified to provide one. Treat everything here as an entertainment.
  • #2
  • Edited 12:44pm Nov 21, 2025 12:24pm | Edited 12:44pm
How do you change your internal DNA in order to become a psychopath???
I mean, is there a way to reduce the size of one's amygadala?
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #3
  • Edited 1:01pm Nov 21, 2025 12:46pm | Edited 1:01pm
Quoting BestTraderEv
How do you change your internal DNA in order to becoma a psychopath??? I mean, is there a way to reduce the size of one's amygadala?
Lol, is that a real question?
Let’s assume it is.

There are two ways to do this.

The first is training similar to special forces. Soldiers must have extremely resilient psyche, and a large part of their training is devoted to dealing with various fears (tunnels, heights, high-speed driving, parachute jumps). I once read that during such training the amygdala literally becomes smaller — its size decreases. I can try to find the source if you wish. So to derease the size of amygdala in non - militart environment you can learn climbing, box, karate, sambo, etc.

The second way is to do the same things they do, but in your imagination. Mental training: you imagine climbing, and the brain doesn’t fully distinguish imagination from reality. When I think about climbing, my hands start sweating — that’s what always happens to me in the mountains. Exercise: imagine a situation in which you are afraid, and conscioulsly decrease breath tempo. After several times the fear will (should) vanish. Don't do this if you have a phobia: this is very strong fear of something. I did it to myself once, terrible, however now I am using it to withstand the pressure and although I feel the real increase of emotions during mental training in real life situation I react with less negative emotions. And please don't treat this as a medical/psychological advice, I am not qualified to provide one.

There’s a claim that professional traders have psychology similar to psychopaths, e.g., serial killers. I have no idea where this comes from. I don’t think so — these two groups have completely different psychological profiles. Just because someone doesn’t get bothered easily or looks like they lack empathy doesn’t mean they could kill many people in cold blood.

When I wrote that, I realized that special forces are indeed trained to kill large numbers of people without hesitation. It may be that some psychopaths end up in these units by choice — that’s possible. But I also don’t think that’s the norm. Many of them are people with almost iron morality, who understand that what they do serves higher purposes. And part of their training focuses on learning when they are allowed to use what they’ve been taught, and when they are not.

thank you, interesting question tbh.
  • #4
  • Nov 21, 2025 1:12pm Nov 21, 2025 1:12pm
Quoting Ettore
{quote} Lol, is that a real question? Let’s assume it is. There are two ways to do this. The first is training similar to special forces. Soldiers must have extremely resilient psyche, and a large part of their training is devoted to dealing with various fears (tunnels, heights, high-speed driving, parachute jumps). I once read that during such training the amygdala literally becomes smaller — its size decreases. I can try to find the source if you wish. So to derease the size of amygdala in non - militart environment you can learn climbing, box,...
1. Yes, it is a serious question.
2. It's scientifically proven that human emotions are regulated by the amygdala. The larger the size of the amygdala, the more empathetic and the more emotional a person is. It's also the fact that emotions are contrary to cold, rational thinking and decision making. That's the reason why even very physically fit individuals don't make it into the special forces, or drop out during the training you describe. In order to get the training in the first place, one must pass a number of tests, first. Then the training filters out only the best of the best.
It's the same with trading - your suggested ways may work for some individuals, but they will never work for every individual.
And the core reason is the amygadala!
We simply need to understand the reality, that unless there is a way to reduce the size of the amygdala, most people will never be able to become "special forces", no matter what they do.
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #5
  • Nov 21, 2025 1:16pm Nov 21, 2025 1:16pm
Now, the question of how to become a psychopath – I suspect that it was about something else, about controlling emotions, fear, etc. Yes, there are ways to become a psychopath, but I will not describe any of them, for obvious reasons. There is a fine line beyond which it is very difficult to return. This can sometimes be seen in soldiers returning from war.

You started with a very difficult topic, lol.

Returning to the subject of trading, I can show you specific exercises on how to work mentally and how to prepare for trading. It would certainly help me if you could give me a specific question or describe the situation, what is happening.

I can give some general exercises as well.
  • #6
  • Nov 21, 2025 1:30pm Nov 21, 2025 1:30pm
Quoting BestTraderEv
{quote} 1. Yes, it is a serious question. 2. It's scientifically proven that human emotions are regulated by the amygdala. The larger the size of the amygdala, the more empathetic and the more emotional a person is. It's also the fact that emotions are contrary to cold, rational thinking and decision making. That's the reason why even very physically fit individuals don't make it into the special forces, or drop out during the training you describe. In order to get the training in the first place, one must pass a number of tests, first. Then the...

Not all people are suited to being soldiers; I think only a very small group are suited to it, perhaps 1% or 2% of the population.

I remembered a situation where I tried to teach a friend trading discipline. He had his own way of trading: he used a combination of multiple averages and entered the market treating their intersections as support and resistance levels. He would deposit, say, $200 and put everything in one place, and after a few hours he would have, for example, $600.

I was unable to teach him to close his position and repeat the cycle the next day in order to systematically earn more.
I was unable to teach him to close when he had a 20% increase.
Every day he held position to zero.

He is a very intelligent, highly educated session musician. A truly high-class artist.

Today, I think I would be able to do it, but here we have not only the issue of emotions, but also internal tendencies and internal motivation. I have often met people who want to use trading to achieve goals other than trading. This is very rarely successful.
  • #7
  • Nov 21, 2025 1:38pm Nov 21, 2025 1:38pm
Without delving into neurosurgery theories (which I am not familiar with), I believe that the amygdala shrinks through systematic overcoming of fear – pushing oneself. At the beginning of climbing, I was very afraid, but over time, as I pushed myself many times and kept going (because I had no choice), the fear diminished. Then, instead of fear, pleasure began to appear.

I believe that it is precisely the act of putting oneself in a situation that causes fear and overcoming it, making decisions and taking action, that is the element that helps to control fear.

If you have already gone through such an exercise, the fear may return, but only briefly. For example, climbers who return to the mountains after some time are advised to just walk around for the first few days and get used to the altitude, or to take easier climbing routes, so that their psyche has time to get used to the altitude. This re-remembering happens very quickly.

The same is true for traders – after holidays, vacations or long breaks, you need to give yourself some time for your mind and psyche to remember the realities of work.
  • #8
  • Nov 21, 2025 1:59pm Nov 21, 2025 1:59pm
Quoting Ettore
{quote} Not all people are suited to being soldiers; I think only a very small group are suited to it, perhaps 1% or 2% of the population. I remembered a situation where I tried to teach a friend trading discipline. He had his own way of trading: he used a combination of multiple averages and entered the market treating their intersections as support and resistance levels. He would deposit, say, $200 and put everything in one place, and after a few hours he would have, for example, $600. I was unable to teach him to close his position and repeat...
What you are describing is a typical situation.
It's the need to be right, and hoping for a big move.
It's a certain emotional freeze, where the person internally insits to be right (they may not even be aware of this), instead of taking profts, because they are strongly convinced they need specific RR. This is also another typical psychological state. And I really doan't see any exercise or magical method how get rid of this.
You may think that now you would be able to teach your friend how to avoid it, but I don't believe that you actually can do that!

The only way to "teach" people like this is if they could have an unlimited money supply and not care about money at all.
The problem is that 99% of people getting into trading are either in the need for money (can't afford to lose), or think this is a get-rich-fast duck laying gold eggs...
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #9
  • Nov 21, 2025 2:00pm Nov 21, 2025 2:00pm
Quoting Ettore
{quote} Not all people are suited to being soldiers; I think only a very small group are suited to it, perhaps 1% or 2% of the population.
This is also true in trading: perhaps 1% or 2% of the population can be successful.
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #10
  • Nov 21, 2025 2:05pm Nov 21, 2025 2:05pm
Quoting Ettore
Now, the question of how to become a psychopath – I suspect that it was about something else, about controlling emotions, fear, etc. Yes, there are ways to become a psychopath, but I will not describe any of them, for obvious reasons. There is a fine line beyond which it is very difficult to return. This can sometimes be seen in soldiers returning from war. You started with a very difficult topic, lol. Returning to the subject of trading, I can show you specific exercises on how to work mentally and how to prepare for trading. It would certainly...
Let me tell you more about me:
I got into this psycho-woo around 1988 and I was a sorts of New Age Guru for a while.
It's all bullshit!!!
You can't really overcome the things your body isn't built to do.
Unless you can change your DNA - maybe one day there will be a pill for that?

Also, I am sure one can take all sorts of pills even today...
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #11
  • Nov 21, 2025 2:23pm Nov 21, 2025 2:23pm
Quoting Ettore
Now, the question of how to become a psychopath – I suspect that it was about something else, about controlling emotions, fear, etc. Yes, there are ways to become a psychopath, ...
To make things clear: "psychopath" doesn't mean a criminal or some kind of evil person.
It simply means that one is on some extreme of what is considered as the norm, mean, or average.
Also, not to be consufed with a brainwashed person.
Yes, it is possible to brainwash a person to extremes of even becoming a killer...
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #12
  • Nov 21, 2025 2:53pm Nov 21, 2025 2:53pm
Quoting Ettore
It would certainly help me if you could give me a specific question or describe the situation, what is happening. I can give some general exercises as well.
The specific question is how to consistently make more profit than we lose when we can (not really) afford an account of around $500, but we can't afford (or don't want) to lose it, and we are only able to open one or max two positions of the minimum lot, and therefore we need to rely on RR only?

You see, that doesn't work in reality!
Something esle works, but that something else requires a really fat account (~$500K +) and taking really huge potential risks.
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #13
  • Nov 23, 2025 8:06am Nov 23, 2025 8:06am
Quoting BestTraderEv
{quote} The specific question is how to consistently make more profit than we lose when we can (not really) afford an account of around $500, but we can't afford (or don't want) to lose it, and we are only able to open one or max two positions of the minimum lot, and therefore we need to rely on RR only? You see, that doesn't work in reality! Something esle works, but that something else requires a really fat account (~$500K +) and taking really huge potential risks.
This isn’t exactly a trading-psychology question, but it’s close enough — and I think I know the answer.

You can rephrase the question as: How do you turn $500 into enough money to live comfortably?
I have friends who have done it.

To begin with, there are 3 ways to achieve this:

  1. Scalping — trading on M1 or M5. A 3:1 made in 15 hours on H1 is the same as a 3:1 made in 20 minutes on M1. Scalping grows capital the fastest.
  2. Pyramiding — adding to a profitable position during strong, long moves.
  3. Bots, especially scalping or pyramiding bots. Many (profitable) transactions every day.

I’ll discuss each of them in turn.

First, a story — a friend of mine deposited $6,200. After 4 months, he had $400 left. He stopped trading and spent half a year just watching charts on M1, M5, H1, and based on observing price movements he created his own method. After 3 years, he was a millionaire. I’ll write to him and ask what part of his system I can share. I can certainly give many hints and conclusions.

His student was a true master — he had results I won’t even describe here no one would believe. His first account was €50,000; he lost it and decided he needed someone to teach him. He went to friend #1 and then spent half a year watching how markets move. He became so good he risked 0.5% of the account per 1 pip and had a stop loss of around 6–7 pips. 20 pips plus was a typical day.

There are surely many scalpers I don’t know. The best one I’ve heard about is Paul Rotter — supposedly he earned around $60–70 million per year scalping futures. But his method wasn’t pure scalping; people say it was market manipulation, which is why he had the nickname “The Flipper.”

In scalping, a few things matter:

You need strong movement on your side and the ability to enter with precision.

A strong, directional move can come from:
https://www.forexfactory.com/thread/...erage-distance

Now we need an entry, and Ill show something from here (I mean FF) I suppose.

t.b.c.

  • #14
  • Nov 24, 2025 7:19am Nov 24, 2025 7:19am
Quoting BestTraderEv
{quote} The specific question is how to consistently make more profit than we lose when we can (not really) afford an account of around $500, but we can't afford (or don't want) to lose it, and we are only able to open one or max two positions of the minimum lot, and therefore we need to rely on RR only? You see, that doesn't work in reality! Something esle works, but that something else requires a really fat account (~$500K +) and taking really huge potential risks.
How does the 919Gilead system based on MADdash work?

The indicator shows that a given currency is strong at the moment (it’s being bought across all timeframes).
It shows which currency is currently the strongest (e.g., on M30) and which is the weakest (also on M30).

Let’s say AUD is the weakest (all red) and USD is the strongest (all green). See attachment

The author of the system then waits on the lower timeframes — M5 or M1 — for a pullback and a resumption of the trend. In other words, for further declines, a continuation of the downtrend on AUD/USD. And then he enters the trade.

Pros of this approach:

  1. The moves are long, and from a scalping perspective you can enter several times.
  2. You trade the weakest currency against the strongest. This is one of the best ways to increase the probability of a good entry.

Cons:

  1. The waiting time for a setup can be many hours.
  2. The system doesn’t have a well-defined method for eliminating moves that have already gone too far.

Now a few ways to remove these problems:

  1. Instead of watching the original indicator, you can build a scanner that looks at the two weakest versus the two strongest currencies and shows the situation: a directional move has appeared in the required direction. In other words, the indicator itself will analyse, remember, and provide not strength/weakness readings, but signals for evaluation and trading. Only signals — nothing else matters.
  2. You can eliminate moves that exceed 100% of the ADR for the given pair.

Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: Example 2.gif Size: 43 KB
  • #15
  • Edited 1:51pm Nov 24, 2025 12:39pm | Edited 1:51pm
The entry method — taken from trader Pollen: https://www.forexfactory.com/pollen

On his profile you can find hundreds of examples of such entries. The market resumes a trend in previous direction, makes a pullback, and he enters on the break of the line that defines the pullback.

Example on the chart: the entry is at the open of the next candle — after the candle that breaks through closes.

With MADdash we get the direction; here we have the method of entering in that direction.
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: 80.png Size: 26 KB
  • #16
  • Nov 25, 2025 9:16am Nov 25, 2025 9:16am
Quoting Ettore
The entry method — taken from trader Pollen: https://www.forexfactory.com/pollen On his profile you can find hundreds of examples of such entries. The market resumes a trend in previous direction, makes a pullback, and he enters on the break of the line that defines the pullback. Example on the chart: the entry is at the open of the next candle — after the candle that breaks through closes. With MADdash we get the direction; here we have the method of entering in that direction. {image}
This is, actually, tatal nonsense!
It only looks good on historical charts and on selected situations.
I have, actually, looked at the suggested strategies and used the indicators.
This is complete BS in reality!
I don't understand why you are posting this???
Are you one of those wannabe Trading Gurus who thinks they know a lot, but actually can't trade profitably, so you want to teach or mentor others?
It won't work with me!
I will be brutal and point out all your BS!!!
For the hundreds of trade examples you mention, I will show two+ hundreds of failed examples!!!
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #17
  • Nov 25, 2025 10:10am Nov 25, 2025 10:10am
Quoting BestTraderEv
{quote} This is, actually, tatal nonsense! It only looks good on historical charts and on selected situations. I have, actually, looked at the suggested strategies and used the indicators. This is complete BS in reality! I don't understand why you are posting this??? Are you one of those wannabe Trading Gurus who thinks they know a lot, but actually can't trade profitably, so you want to teach or mentor others? It won't work with me! I will be brutal and point out all your BS!!! For the hundreds of trade examples you mention, I will show two+ hundreds...
LOL, I’m writing to organise my thoughts because I’m going to build a scanner and then a bot based on it.
I think better when I have to explain something to someone, so of course you’re welcome to pour out your anger here, be my guest.

Thanks to what I have wriitten above, I realised that my initial idea is too complicated for MT4, because the program would have to remember what the Maddash readings were, e.g. a few hours ago. So the program has to work in the “here and now”, and that affects what the main algorithm will do.

I’ve realised the program needs to analyse past situations, so now I’ll be thinking about a different algorithm. Great, a giant step forward!

The entries described by Pollen are very good — a break of the line bounding the pattern (ideally a strong break Marubosu - type) in a strong trend is a very good signal. I obviously have other ideas that I’ll also compare, e.g. signals at the end of pullbacks, but implementing that in a simple algorithm is not easy, so the first algorithm will analyse Pollen’s entries.

There is a role for you too: Could you suggest a simple code in MQL that will show Pollen’s entries? I know you’re good at this. That way I’ll be able to prove you wrong more quickly.
  • #18
  • Edited 10:34am Nov 25, 2025 10:21am | Edited 10:34am
Quoting Ettore
{quote} LOL, I’m writing to organise my thoughts because I’m going to build a scanner and then a bot based on it. I think better when I have to explain something to someone, so of course you’re welcome to pour out your anger here, be my guest. Thanks to what I have wriitten above, I realised that my initial idea is too complicated for MT4, because the program would have to remember what the Maddash readings were, e.g. a few hours ago. So the program has to work in the “here and now”, and that affects what the main algorithm will do. I’ve realised...
You don't need to prove me wrong.
You need to prove your concept right!
I am just telling you my experience with that indicator.
I am not saying that the concept of monitoring currency strength is a bad one - it's good.
However, the whole idea of trading pullbacks in trend is absolutely nothing new.
And it certainly works, if the market is actually trending - which is rare these days, especially on M5, M1 charts.
So, in order to get a good entry price for 1:3 RR, we really need something predictive!!!
Because if we wait for a candle, it's already too late for 1:3 RR!
And then we are facing the obvious problem - we can't get the required RR!
Waiting for any candle confirmation on M1 and M5 is most oftentimes too late, the train is already gone!
It's only rarely, in very low volatility, that candle signals work.

As for the rest, I'll see what I can do.
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #19
  • Edited 4:03pm Nov 25, 2025 3:15pm | Edited 4:03pm
Quoting Ettore
{quote} LOL, ... Could you suggest a simple code in MQL that will show Pollen’s entries?
There doesn't seem to be any specific consensus on what Pollen's entries are...
So, no way to give you a code if the rules aren't specified.

However, GPT says that there are 3 Pollen strategies.
Here is the code, though I have no way to check if it's correct.
It plots arrows, though.
Attached File(s)
File Type: mq4 Universal_Pollen_Entries.mq4   11 KB | 91 downloads


BTW, this is what GPT said:
Quote
Yeah — and that’s exactly the problem with Pollen’s stuff.
Nobody outside his inner Discord actually knows the real logic.
What was leaked publicly is:

  1. vague descriptions,
  2. cherry-picked screenshots,
  3. fuzzy rules like “BOS → Retest → Continuation,”
  4. and “EMA squeeze → explosive move,”
  5. but not actual, testable, algorithmic rules.

So any “Pollen indicator” online is basically someone’s guess.


My comment:
Been there, done all this shit, nothing new under the sun...
Meaning:
A discretionary strategy → forced into mechanical signals = trash output
.ex4/.ex5 files can't be fixed or modified / I'm not a coder!
  • #20
  • Nov 26, 2025 3:59am Nov 26, 2025 3:59am
Hi. How to reliably and timely determine the tilt? How do I understand that the tilt is over and I can trade again?
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