Sudden mental block or fear - please help

newspreadbetter

newspreadbetter

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Been spread betting for a little over 2 years now, part time. First few months went really well, and with very little if no knowledge of charts or indicators (I now put this down to beginners luck), then lost a fair bit and have now broke even. Everything going well and looking good, recent house move and a new office, exactly as I want it and a new PC with 2 monitors (present from the mrs)

Now, no matter how long I sit there, I just cant seem to trade, its like some kind of mental block? Is this common?

And the odd few times I do place a trade, I panic and change my time frame from 10 minute chart down to 5 mins, or even 3 mins to get an earlier heads up of any change in direction.. Where, and why has this new fear come from?
 
i've experienced this problem, and just cut back on my dollar amount until i felt comfortable, my confidence was regained, and had made adjustments to my trading system if needed. then gradually increase dollar amounts.
 
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Forget about gambling and concentrate of working in you new office. Those who take you bets are trying to make a living. To beat them takes more effort than you can afford. Use your money to buy something nice for you wife.
 
Yep its normal, youve a dose of the trading yips.

You can learn from it. You see youre not really trading the market, youre trading yourself. Youre trading the sum of your fears.
The market is uncertainty, its an uncomfortable deal psychologically to be involved in. You have to find a way to accept this and the fact that truly anything can happen, anything! In 1 jumbo tick, acc gone / doubled your money.
When you fully accept this as best you can, and have a handle on what youve going on upstairs, theres not much left to fear. You can trade freely.

Practically, cut your size and read trading in the zone.

GL
 
i'm a beginner too
during the belgium attacks i thought the markets would go up and since i am not subscribed to wire service i was stuck with dumb cnn. the second attack hit and i was about 30% loss onmy whole account but i still knew it was bulls day. i could have just quit but i waited and waited for the lowest point which it could not possibly close at and i went full in and bought.....about 4 hours later i made my losses back with an extra two thousand bucks. BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR PROCESS NOT RESULTS. if you know this you cant lose. Always remember to welcome failure....you learn more from failure than success.
 
i've met way too many trust fund babies in college to know that money isn't **** if your brain is burnt toast.
 
Execution

Cut size down so you don't care and can walk away from the screen with out checking for a few hour's.

Look to do some small size limit orders with take profit order's, so you get in the habit of trying to making money while away from the desk.

Nice when you can make some money when not stuck in front of the screen or make some money when you sleeping.

Then keep building(size) over a period of time.

Maybe then if you then feel like the odd hour scalping in and out of the market, just do it or don't.
 
Oscar Reed said:
Execution

Cut size down so you don't care and can walk away from the screen with out checking for a few hour's.

Look to do some small size limit orders with take profit order's, so you get in the habit of trying to making money while away from the desk.

Nice when you can make some money when not stuck in front of the screen or make some money when you sleeping.

Then keep building(size) over a period of time.

Maybe then if you then feel like the odd hour scalping in and out of the market, just do it or don't.
Click to expand...

i definitely like limit bracket orders. place the order and go have lunch or something.
 
Go play golf for a day or two... and don't force into any trade, that's always a bad idea... just wait for an opportunity and you'll be allright.
 
I have my rules for whenever I get a mental block in something. Some of them have already been mentioned here, but I'll sum it up.
1) Forget about it for some time (hours, days, weeks), spend them on something new and non-stressful.
2) Take small steps in the direction where you are experiencing mental block. Small trades, or one trade per day, etc. Sometimes such a block appears from a fear to not perform as well as before, so first of all you need to prove your skills to yourself.
3) Most importantly - don't force yourself! Get down to trading only when you feel ready. If you let yourself such freedom, you'll be surprised how fast you become motivated again.
 
Go and put 20 trades into the Machine,with Stops and Profit targets immidiatly. Just Limit orders trades on your favourite Product, pick your levels. Give it ten minutes, watch the Clock....then return to the screens Cancel all twenty orders ..........go for a walk about. Upon returning Put the limit trades in again the same way, watch the clock again for ten.....spot the differences..........go for another quick walk about.......cancel the orders. .......and re enter them. When you get bored with putting in the same orders over and over again you will start to become Stubborn, again. Wash and Repeat when needed.
 
I forgot to mention that meditation can be a big help in calming the mind.
Grab a pair of headphones and find a time and place away from distraction.
Take a moment to become comfortable in a seated position, slow and deepen your breathing as is comfortable. When youre ready, click the guided meditation link and close your eyes.

Enjoy.
 
new_trader said:
I doubt the fear is new...from what you've written it's clear to me you don't know how to trade. You don't have a methodology, you're just taking stabs in the dark.(n)
Click to expand...

So what if he does? Perhaps that's his methodology :) Whatever works for you best, right?
 
You must have a clear trading strategy. I'd be scared to death if I had to trade more than I can afford to lose without one.
 
babyjake1961 said:
You must have a clear trading strategy. I'd be scared to death if I had to trade more than I can afford to lose without one.
Click to expand...

Well, I guess even while using trading strategy trading more than you can afford to lose is not the smartest thing to do. If this happens you should definitely reevaluate your strategy :)
 
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