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12 Steps Every Trader Should Take –

1.  We admit that we were powerless over our emotions-that our trading had become unmanageable.

2.  We came to believe that principles greater than ourselves could restore our sanity and profitability.

3.  Made a decision to turn our will and our lives inside the charts over to certain principles as we understood them.

4.  Made a searching and fearless trading inventory of ourselves and  our trading account.

5.  Admitted to our brokerage, to ourselves, and another the exact nature of our wrongs.

6.  Were entirely ready to have these principles remove all defects of character.

7.  Humbly ask that these principles remove our shortcomings. (more…)

Traders and Drinkers…Are We Different After All?

If you find this post offensive, relax. This post is not intended to offend, only to discuss more trading psychology. I pass no judgments on this topic because I have lived through this subject in different aspects myself. I came across an article that correlates destructive trading to destructive alcohol consumption. Take a quick look at this questionnaire that professionals use to determine the severity of alcohol abuse…

1) Have you found that your drinking is bringing unwanted, negative consequences?

2) Have you recently felt guilty over the way you have been drinking?

3) Do you find you need to drink more just to get the good feeling?

4) Do you find that your personality changes when you drink excessively?

5) Do you find it difficult to take a break from drinking, even when part of you knows that this would be best for you?

6) Do you find yourself drinking to feel good about yourself?

7) Do you sometimes feel that you cannot control how much you drink?

8) Do you find yourself getting angry when someone close to you questions your drinking?

9) Do you find yourself vowing to limit your drinking, only to slip back into overdrinking?

10) Do you find it difficult to not drink given the opportunity, even when the occasion is not really appropriate?

Like I mentioned, these were questions that are typically asked by a psychologist when confronting someone struggling with alcohol consumption. You can apply this to any substance abuse, addiction, or whatever struggles you cope with. The question is “What about trading?” Take a look at the modified questionnaire…

1) Have you found that your trading is bringing unwanted, negative consequences?

2) Have you recently felt guilty over the way you have been trading?

3) Do you find you need to trade more just to get the good feeling?

4) Do you find that your personality changes when you trade excessively?

5) Do you find it difficult to take a break from trading, even when part of you knows that this would be best for you?

6) Do you find yourself trading to feel good about yourself?

7) Do you sometimes feel that you cannot control how much you trade?

8) Do you find yourself getting angry when someone close to you questions your trading?

9) Do you find yourself vowing to limit your trading, only to slip back into overtrading?

10) Do you find it difficult to not trade given the opportunity, even when the occasion is not really appropriate? (more…)