This is a very common problem among traders, and its roots lie in psychology and the absence of a clear system. Let's figure out why this happens and how to fix it.
1. The fear of loss is stronger than the desire for profit
- Psychologically, losses cause more pain than the joy that profits bring.
- When a trade is in profit, you are afraid to give up your earnings — and you close it.
- When a trade is in the red, you hope for a bounce because "acknowledging a loss = defeat."
2. Lack of clear rules
- If you don't have strict criteria for entry, exit, and trade management, you are acting on emotions.
- You hold losses because there is no clear stop.
- You close profits early because you don't know where the real target is.
3. Incorrect stop-loss
- If the stop is set "at random" (for example, a fixed % or random level), the market easily knocks it out.
- You start moving the stop "to give the trade a chance" — and end up with a huge loss.
How to fix this?
✅ Trade by structure, not by hope
- Identify key levels on higher timeframes (D1, H4).
- The stop should be beyond the zone that invalidates your idea. Not "where I'm comfortable," but "where the market proves I was wrong."
✅ Fix profits according to plan, not out of fear
- Predefine take-profit zones (for example, at resistance/support levels).
- You can use partial closing: for example, 50% at the first level, the rest with a trailing stop.
✅ Keep a trade journal and analyze mistakes
- Write down why you entered and why you exited.
- If you often close profitable trades early, perhaps your goals are too conservative.
- If you often hold losses, tighten your exit rules.
✅ Train your discipline
- "Hope" is the worst advisor in trading.
- If the price hits the stop, it means your idea did not work. Accept it and move on.
The main thing
The market is not evil; it simply reflects your mistakes. If you are not confident in your strategy, you will hold losses and lose profits.
But if you have clear rules and discipline, you will start holding profitable trades longer and closing losing ones on time.
Try to review your system and work on your psychology. You can do it! 💪
(If you want to analyze specific examples from your trading, write to me, I will help.)