The addiction problem in trading stems from the pattern of infinite scrolling, where traders are aimless drifters without profit targets, no loss limits, and no idea when to stop, ultimately losing all their money.

First, understand this:
Trading IS drug addiction.
Worse, even — because society celebrates yours.
Let me explain:
You overdose on heroin → people tell you to get help.
You blow up your account → people say:
“Just go SMALLER size to get your market feel back!”
SMALLER SIZE?
That’s not discipline. That’s enabling a relapse.
How’s that ANY different from a friend saying,
“Just one SMALLER hit and you’ll be fine,” right after you got out of rehab?

1. Why is it like drug addiction?
Addicts always say they’ll stop after a bad trip.
Traders always say they’ll stop revenge trading after a bad loss.
Then 2 hours later,
you’re curled up on your sofa, shorting $ETH , thinking:
“Just one last trade. I’ll make it back, I swear.”
You’re in pain.
And impulsive trading IS your freaking morphine.
The WORST part?
Everyone claps.
You lose it all → they call you “ambitious.”
You spiral → they say you’re “managing volatility.”
You’re gambling, coping, rotting → they call it “conviction.”

2. What’s going on in your mind?
You think:
“If I held longer, I’d have bought a house.”
It crashes.
“If I hold longer, it’ll bounce.”
It bleeds.
“I sold too early. Next time, I’ll just hold.”
And the cycle repeats.
The core addiction loop:
Anticipation → Trigger → Action → Regret → Vow → Relapse.
Same as drugs. Just with charts.

3. So how do you FIX it, systematically?
You use the same PROVEN system addicts use to get clean.
It’s called the 12 Steps —
Used by the world’s largest addiction recovery groups: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Cocaine Anonymous (CA).
They’ve helped millions worldwide break free from compulsive self-destruction.
Not with inspirational talks.
But with a dead-simple, brutally effective framework that works when your brain doesn’t.
Start with Step 1 and Step 2.
That alone will stop 80% of your worst trading spirals.
STEP 1: Admit you are powerless over your bad decisions/addiction
This isn’t some spiritual fluff.
It’s executive function collapse.
Your prefrontal cortex shuts down, and your limbic brain takes over.
You know it’s a bad trade, but you’re not in control.
You’re running survival scripts, not strategy.
You long. It dumps.
You DCA. You MOVE the stop-loss.
You WON'T CLOSE THE TRADE because your ego says:
“Cutting = Admitting Failure = Death.”
That’s ego death aversion.
Same reason addicts say:
“I’ve got this under control.”
Spoiler: you don’t.
STEP 2: Accept that logic won’t save you and only a Higher Power can restore your sanity.
You think you can ANALYZE your way out of FEAR.
You can’t.
This isn’t about being smart.
It’s about surrender.
- You need a higher power.
- You need to surrender to a framework that acts on your behalf when you’re not capable.
- You need to build one set of strategy and STICK TO IT for a while (at least months-long timeframe). No switching. No tweaking mid-trade.
- Then set hard-coded rules with punishments THAT HURT.
- FOR EXAMPLE: break a rule, send your friend 10k, or do 50 pushups, or post on Twitter: “I’m a dumbass who revenge trades.”
These are just 2 out of 12 steps. But internalizing even these two kills 80% of your worst trades.
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4. WHY IT WORKS?⚠️
Because long-term recovery IS NOT ABOUT WILLPOWER.
It’s about maintenance of awareness.
What’s the difference between an addict who relapses after 3 months and one who stays clean for 30+ years?
The 30-year survivor says every day:
“I have a disease that will never be cured. I can only manage it.”
The one who relapses says:
“I’m fine now. I’ve recovered.”
Same with trading.
The moment you think you’ve “mastered it,”
You’ve already started losing.
Society tells traders:
“You’re a genius. You’re a killer. You’re ambitious.”
No.
You’re just high.
GN and get help.
#TradingStrategyMistakes