If you don't want this to happen to you, don't short low, short when the bulls get excited, assuming the downtrend is still healthy.
Check your "manipulation" on the chart attached, see that? that's where big money is selling, Bears in total control. Bulls can make money too, but for that you need to be highly adept (counter-trend at this point).
This is very very basic but I will give you a starting point.
Biggest problem in downtrends is that people short when price is making lower lows, and that's precisely when you should be thinking about taking or trailing for profits, you want to short the LOWER HIGHS, short lower lows and you will most likely take it up the ass because the thing would need to go down vertically for you to make money without taking massive heat, and price very rarely does that; it moves in waves. By shorting low not only do you receive much less reward, but you are asking to take massive heat, learn to short high and learn to buy low (in uptrends), but please, no manipulation theories, it makes you look dumb and act dumb. Until you learn the game, stay out of ranges, they are harder for most. Wait for a well defined trend and try the above, no trend, no trades, don't use MAs, use channels (sometimes wedges, other times broadening formations) and remember that price doesnt have to perfectly hold inside of it, due to volatility and stop runs it can sometimes behave erratic and fake out of these formations a lot creating failed breakouts and screwing breakout traders.
Anyway, good luck and stay cash or sim until you learn the game.
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