There is nothing more frustrating than a trade that goes wrong. Especially when you thought you had everything under control. It has happened to me more times than I care to admit. A loss that not only hits your account, but also your pride. And then... the trader's worst enemy appears: revenge trading.

“I just want to get it back...”

That's how it all starts. You lose a trade and feel that knot in your stomach. Not because of the money itself, but because “it shouldn't have happened.” You review the chart, try to justify it... and before you know it, you're opening another trade.

But you're no longer doing it strategically. You're doing it out of anger. Out of need. Out of that urge to prove you were right.

That's revenge trading. And believe me, it never ends well.

The problem isn't losing... it's losing control

Loss is part of the game. But the problem arises when you don't accept it. When your mind switches from strategic mode to emotional mode. That's when everything goes down the drain.

It has happened to me:

Breaking my own rules.

Increasing position size without reason.

Trading without a stop.

Wanting to “recoup” losses at any cost.

And the cost... is usually much higher than the original loss.

What I learned the hard way

Revenge trading is not about winning, it's about validating your ego. And ego always loses in trading.

Discipline is not tested when you win, but when you lose. That's where you define yourself as a trader.

A loss is not a signal to trade more, but to pause. The bravest thing I've ever done in trading was to close everything and walk away.

How did I stop falling into that cycle?

It wasn't easy, but today I follow these principles to stay strong:

1. Daily loss limit

I have a daily stop. If I reach it, I close the platform. No excuses. If I'm already at an emotional disadvantage, I don't keep betting.

2. Emotional journal

I write down how I feel after each trade. This helped me see patterns: anger after a loss, euphoria after a win... and how those emotions affected my next decisions.

3. Mandatory wait after a loss

If I lose, I force myself to wait at least 15 minutes before trading again. I breathe, reconnect, and check whether what I want to do is part of the plan or part of my ego.

4. Repeating a key phrase to myself

“My job is not to recover, it is to execute consistently.” That phrase has saved me more than once.

It's not about being perfect, it's about being aware

I'm still human. There are days when frustration gets to me. But now I recognize it before I act. And that makes all the difference.

Being a trader isn't just about knowing when to enter or exit. It's about knowing when to stop, when to say “today is not my day,” and when to prioritize your mental balance over one more trade.

Final reflection

If you've ever ended up trading out of anger, you're not alone. What matters is that you recognize that pattern and decide to break it. Revenge trading doesn't bring you closer to success... it takes you further away from your best version as a trader.

Because winning an emotional battle is the real victory in this game.