heart palpitations on waking up at 3am in the morning rooted in fear

[digitalnomad]

its a sign of good health. slow heart you wanna worry i prom

 

[Nick Nikolo]

Just a brief followup. Based upon videos by Rande Howell, a trading psychologist, I've realized that his explanations make a lot of sense. Upon perception of risk the emotional/limbic mind takes over (usually unnoticed), trader becomes "possessed" and makes decisions that go against his earlier rational trading plan. The fix that he advocates is emotional regulation, such as awareness that fight/flight is coming on (and about to ruin everything) by observing breath, heart rate etc, then breath control, recognition that this is not who you are (it's just 1 potentiality), mindfulness, etc.
Furthermore, he avers, the goal is to begin to feel comfortable with uncertainty, and the focus ought to shift away from winning toward performing. Just like an athlete can choose to put emphasis on the process of training rather than fret about an upcoming competition.
Rande might be onto something - I tend to make consistently good trades, except when the limbic brain gets activated and makes me act like an idiot.

 

[Overnight]

Just a brief followup. Based upon videos by Rande Howell, a trading psychologist, I've realized that his explanations make a lot of sense...

Never ever believe "trading psychologists." They are great at telling you what you want to hear, but they do not do what they say. That is why they tell, not do. They are all BS. EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE IN RETROSPECT. Trading psychology? Anyone with two bits and a lick of common sense can become a "trading psychologist". Why? Because they do not make money trading. They make money off of people who sign up for their psych courses which try to tell those people how to make money in the market.

 

[Buy1Sell2]

Whenever I hold large leveraged positions (in cash market) overnight, I invariably wake up suddenly around 3 to 3:30am eastern time with fear, my heart pounding in my chest like I've just seen a bear coming after me.
Then I grab my phone and stare at futures, currencies, etc, flipping back and forth between them. This often goes on for an hour, 2 or more.
If I hold no positions then sleep is much, much better.
Large unrealized gains that slipped away in a matter of minutes (due to complacency) also have caused me a lot of anguish, just last week missed out on 2 separate $30K and $70K profit opportunities, worse yet suffered some losses due to inaction.

How did you master the mental game?
I feel exhausted, sleep deprived, a ticking wreck inside, while projecting a chill dude facade on the outside. At the same time I've never felt more certain that trading is my passion. I feel consumed by it day and night.
Any suggestions on fear management?

Way overextended.

 

[volente_00]

I trade futures instead. If you can't sleep may as well make money from it. Can always exit in the middle of the night if needed.