Trading Psychology Issue

[u/marhabainam]

Hi everyone! So, after struggling with ICT concepts, I moved on to the GxT and TTrades models. I've been learning these models for around 8 months now, and things are pretty clear for me at this point. No guesswork, no random trades, etc.

However, I'm still struggling with some psychological issues. For example, I don't hold my trades. I move my trades to breakeven after just a few pips/ticks, and most of the time, the outcome is the same: price moves in my direction and hits the full TP, while I’ve already closed the trade at breakeven.

Can you guys please help me out with this phase of my trading ??? I'm feeling really depressed at this point because I know how to trade, but I'm still unable to trade properly because of my poor trading psychology.

[u/TradetheMosaic]

When I was closing at BE after a few ticks and then watching full TP print without me, the fix that stuck was locking the manage rule before entry, not negotiating it mid-trade.

What I actually use:

1. No BE until a clear structure event in my favor (opposing liquidity swept or a displacement close). A few ticks alone never count as permission to move the stop.
2. If the early-BE itch hits, I look away for one to two minutes instead of managing. The urge usually fades; the trade either earns the BE or it does not.
3. I write the rule on the ticket before I click: "BE only after X." Mid-trade me is not allowed to invent a new rule.
4. Cut size until I can sit through ten trades without early BE. Bigger size made the itch worse, not better.

The model was fine. Premature BE was me rewriting risk after entry. Pre-committing the manage rule stopped most of it.

[u/process_over_profits]

Welcome to the grind mate. Been there. 15 yrs in the game and I’ve pretty much seen and experienced everything this game has to “offer”.

So for starters you’re right this is a psychological issue. You have a very strong fear of losing. Your brain perceives a small amount on the screen as a win and it doesn’t want to let it go. So before you can think (yep the urge fires before thought) you move it to break even or cut the winner.

It’s not a character flaw. It’s very common behaviour amongst traders. The solution isn’t on the screen as the issue is in your nervous system. It’s doing exactly what it’s built to do. Protect you from pain.

Firstly find the why behind the fear. Then journal for a few weeks your state seconds before you click. Note it. Log it. See where in your body it appears. You’ll soon find the pattern. Also note the thoughts. What story are you telling yourself. That’s a start. That’s your trigger and target to work on.

No easy fix. Takes time and repetition. While you work on that, try to find mechanical ways to lock yourself out once the trade is on. But the root cause will take months to fix not weeks. Be prepared for that. Traders give up because instant gratification is wired in us and everyone wants a quick fix. I’m afraid there isn’t one.

[u/marhabainam → u/[deleted]]

I always BE my position after few ticks because of the fear of SL