Tilt in trading: how to recognize the enemy and not win against him

Every trader sooner or later encounters a tilt — a state when conscious trading turns into emotional gambling. It's not just a bad mood, but a real threat to capital.

What does tilt look like in practice?

The scenario is familiar: you analyze the chart, enter a position, but the market goes against you. The first trade closed in the red — still okay. The second one — too. By the third, your hand is shaking not from calculation, but from adrenaline. Instead of figuring out what went wrong, you frantically open a new position with a double lot. Logic? It has long since left the scalper.

The main signs that you are in tilt:

• The number of transactions is increasing, analysis is decreasing — chaos is replacing strategy. • You ignore or move stop losses in the hope that the market will “turn around” • Positions are growing not according to plan, but because it is necessary to “play out” • Once you execute a deal without analysis — it becomes a habit.

Why is this happening?

Tilt is a defensive reaction of the brain to stress. When a series of losses or failures occur one after another, the brain goes into debt mode, trying to recover the lost at any cost.

Most common triggers:

1. Series of negative agreements — each new one must return the previous one
2. Fatigue from schedules — 8-10 hours in front of the monitor without breaks
3. Greed after a big profit — logic says “stop”, but the hand clicks “more”
4. Overconfident forecasts — “this time I definitely know where the price will go”

How to counter this?

Tilt can be minimized but not completely eliminated. Most often, traders forget about three things:

1. Clear rules before each transaction

As soon as you open a position, there should already be answers to: How much am I willing to lose? How much am I willing to earn? Where is the stop-loss? If you can't provide these answers within 10 seconds — don't enter.

2. Break is a strategy

If you feel aggression, impatience, the desire to prove something — close the terminal. Sometimes the most profitable deal is the one you didn't make. Step away from the table for 15-30 minutes.

3. A journal, but not the one you think

Thousands of traders keep trade journals — statistics of lots, entry and exit points. This is good, but not enough. Write down how you felt when you entered. Did you have coffee? Did you sleep well? Was there some news that irritated you?

Deposit complaint - explain why. “Failure” doesn't count. Specifically: “Three consecutive losses, it became terrible, doubled the lot without analysis, lost 30% of capital in an hour.”

4. Discipline over talent

A nightingale that enters into deals uncontrollably doesn't last long. A bear that strictly follows a strategy and doesn't deviate often wins. Your strategy doesn't have to be the strategy of the most profitable trader. But if you have accepted it — stick to it like a monk.

Task for the Week

What can be done right now:

• WRITE YOUR THREE RISK RULES IN CAPITAL LETTERS AND STICK THEM ON THE MONITOR • The next time you feel aggression, take a screenshot of the chart, close the platform, and read something neutral for 20 minutes. • Start the timer for 6 hours of trading — after this, the terminal is no more.

A tilt in trading is not a failure, it's a signal. A signal that your psyche needs work just as much as your strategy does. Turn to yourself with the same meticulous analysis that you use to dissect charts.