Well-known trader: Trading is an addiction worse than drugs. Here are two steps to help you get rid of 80% of bad trading

Famous trader Pickle Cat posted on Twitter, discussing how trading is essentially an addiction behavior worse than drugs, as society encourages trading but discourages drug use. The article explores why trading should be defined as an addictive behavior and how to systematically quit this behavior. She points out that long-term addiction recovery is not about willpower, but about maintaining awareness. Just two steps can eliminate 80% of bad trades.

Trading is an Addictive Behavior, Even Worse Than Drugs

Pickle Cat states that one must first recognize trading as an addiction, even worse than drugs, because society applauds your behavior. It's like when you overdose on drugs, people tell you to get help. But when your account is liquidated, people say: "It's okay, just get back in touch with your trading feel!"

She questions whether this is just encouraging victims to reduce their dosage, which is not self-discipline but promoting relapse. It's like someone patting you on the shoulder after quitting drugs and saying, "Come on, just a little bit."

As for why trading is like drug addiction? Addicts often say: "After this incident, I'll never touch it again." Traders also say: "After this liquidation, I'll never do revenge trading again." But two hours later, you're curled up on the couch, shorting Ethereum, thinking: "Just one last time, I'll definitely turn this around, I swear." You're in pain, and impulsive trading is your morphine. Worse, people are applauding.

You lose all your money, and they say you're ambitious. You lose control of your trading, and they say you're capturing volatility. You struggle like a gambler, and they call it unwavering belief.

What's happening in your brain? You repeatedly think: When it starts dropping, "If I just hold a bit longer, I could buy a house now." When it plummets: "Just hang on, it will bounce back." Finally, you think: "I sold too early again. Next time, I'll hold till the end." And then the cycle repeats.

This is the core addiction cycle: Anticipation → Trigger → Action → Regret → Vow to Change → Relapse. Pickle Cat points out this is exactly like drug addiction, except you're using candlestick charts.

How to Systematically Solve Trading Addiction? Awareness Trumps Willpower, Admit You're Addicted

Pickle Cat recommends using the twelve-step addiction recovery mechanism. This is the method used by the world's largest addiction recovery organization (for alcohol, drugs, etc.). It has helped millions worldwide avoid self-destruction, not through motivational speeches, but through a simple yet deadly effective framework.

Just by completing the first and second steps, you can stop 80% of the most severe trading loss of control.

Step 1: Admit you are powerless over your bad habits. This isn't motivational talk; your brain's executive function has crashed. Rational thinking is offline, and only survival instinct remains. You know you've made bad trades, but you can't control yourself. Refusing to admit mistakes and adding more positions will lead to an immediate crash (you've already taken the wrong first step without realizing it). You average down your position, move your stop loss lower. You refuse to close your position because your ego tells you: "Cutting the position means admitting failure, which equals death." This is the fear of self-destruction.

Addicts always say: "I'm fine, I can control it." The truth is: You can't control it.

Step 2: Rational Thinking Can't Save You, Only a Higher Power Can Restore Your Clarity

You think you can overcome fear through analysis - wrong. It's not about intelligence, but surrender. You need a higher-level power, not necessarily divine. It's a framework that makes decisions when you lose control. You need to choose a trading strategy and strictly execute it for several months. No mid-course changes, no adjustments. Set clear and painful punishment rules.

For example, when breaking the rules:

• Immediately transfer 10,000 to a friend (the author is happy to be that friend),
• Or immediately do 50 push-ups,
• Or post on X: "I'm an idiot who does revenge trading."

Just Two Steps to Eliminate 80% of Bad Trades

Pickle Cat says that although these are just two of the 12 steps, thoroughly executing these two steps will directly eliminate 80% of bad trades. Why is this method effective? Because long-term addiction recovery is not about willpower, but about maintaining awareness.

Someone who has been sober for 30 years will say: "I have an illness that will never be fully cured; I can only manage it daily." But someone who relapses after three months says: "I'm fine, I've quit." Pickle Cat points out that trading is the same - the moment you think you've completely mastered trading is when you start losing control.

Society will tell you: "You're a genius. You're a killer. You're ambitious."

No, you're just addicted.