I can relate to you completely bro. I'm in college right now and trading definetely put a strain on me. I thought it was a problem with me but to fix the problem, I had to attack the root. Since my account could barely tolerate risk, I realized that it was the fear of losing that was really getting to me.
I would stay awake thinking what tomorrow would bring, but in reality each thought had a strong undertone of, "WillI lose tomorrow? WIll I live to trade another day?". Trading is how I make my living so I couldn't just stop but I realized that it was better to stop than to trade and lose.
I spent about 2 weeks just thinking of a new approach to trading and I finally fixed it. I have my whole system coded and automated now and I let the computer take care of the trading. I just have to verify the fill before the order gets filled. It's made it a lot easier but I still get stressed out on a bad day (rare now but it still happens). I also trade in such a way that no loss can really hurt me. Actually, I leave myself room for about 5 consecutive losses even though my system at max has a max consecutive loss factor of 1 (so far). This way, even if I lose, I will live to see another day. The profits go down, but the losses due to and your spirit goes up.
I am also getting a job to take some of the stress off. Unless you've made it really big in trading and have been doing it for a while conistently, you haven't made it enough to quit your dayjob. The security of a guaranteed paycheck really does relieve some of the stress if it is bothering you that much.
And trust me, college is more important than trading. I'm all for the whole do it yourself deal and I am starting up a business right now but even than, I am still persuing a doctorate (still just a sophmore though). College is security and if trading has taught you anything, it should be that security is a good thing. Do not roll dice with life.
Also, I'd definetely stay away from the meds and red bull.. that crap will screw you up. I use to work at a pharmacy and half the people that take stuff to get em past stuff like this could have done it without it and they would have been better off. I'm not saying some people don't genuinly need the meds, but I think this is more of an emotional/mental problem that can be fixed by changing your perception and logic on the matter, not be changing the chemical processes of your body. (just my opinion)
Don't forget man, trading is something that you do to live, you do not live to trade. Never blur that line to the point where you are nothing more than a limit order away from happiness and sadness.
Of course, I do not state any of this with an intent of patronizing you. I merely want to share my experience with you on a similar matter and I sincerely hope that it helps. Good luck bro.
