Famous trader: Trading is a worse addiction than drugs, and two steps will help you eliminate 80% of bad trades.

The well-known trader Pickle Cat posted on Twitter, discussing how trading is essentially a more detrimental addiction than drugs, as society does not encourage drug use but does encourage trading. The article explores why trading should be defined as an addictive behavior and how to systematically quit this behavior. She points out that the key to long-term recovery from addiction is not willpower, but maintaining awareness. Just two simple steps can help eliminate 80% of bad trades.

Trading is an addictive behavior, even worse than drugs.

The Cucumber Cat states that one must first realize that trading is akin to an addiction, even worse than drugs, because society will applaud your actions. It's like when you overdose on drugs, others will urge you to quit. But when your account gets liquidated, others will say to you: "It's okay, just regain your touch with a small position!"

She questions that this is just promoting victims to reduce their dosage, which is not self-discipline, but rather encouraging relapse. This is the same as someone patting you on the shoulder right after you've quit drugs and saying, "Come on, just a little bit more."

Why do we say trading is like an addiction? Addicts often say, "After this incident, I won't touch it again." Traders also frequently say, "After this liquidation, I will never engage in revenge trading again." But two hours later, you find yourself curled up on the couch, shorting Ethereum, thinking, "Just one last time, I can definitely make a comeback, I swear." You're in pain, and impulsive trading is your morphine. What's worse is that others are still applauding.

You lose all your money, and they say you have ambition. You trade out of control, and they say you are mastering the volatility. You struggle like a gambler, and they call it steadfast belief.

What exactly happened in your brain at that moment? You kept thinking, when it started to drop: "If I just hold on a bit longer, I could buy a house now." When it plummeted: "Just hold on, it will rebound." Finally, you thought: "I sold too early again. Next time, I'll hold on until the end." And then the cycle repeats.

This is the core loop of addiction: Anticipation → Trigger → Action → Regret → Vow to change → Relapse. Huang Guamao pointed out that this is exactly the same as drug addiction, except that you are using candlestick charts.

How to systematically address trading addiction? Awareness is greater than willpower; acknowledge that you are addicted.

Cucumber Cat recommends using the twelve-step method of the addiction recovery mechanism. This is the method used by the largest addiction recovery organization in the world, ( for alcohol and drug rehabilitation, etc. It has helped millions of people worldwide break free from self-destruction, not through motivational quotes, but through a simple yet deadly effective framework.

By just taking the first and second steps, you can stop 80% of the most severe trading out of control.

Step 1: Acknowledge that you are powerless against your bad habits. This is not some self-help nonsense; it's your brain's executive function failing. Logic shuts down, and only survival instincts remain. You know you've made a bad trade, but you can't control yourself. Refusing to admit mistakes and doubling down on long positions leads to an immediate crash ). You've already taken the wrong first step, and you haven't realized it yet (. You average down and move your stop-loss lower. You refuse to close your position because your ego tells you: "Cutting the position equals admitting failure 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: Accept that reason cannot save you; only a higher power can restore your clarity.

You think you can get rid of fear through analysis, but you are wrong. This is not about being smart, but about surrender. You need a higher level of power, which doesn't necessarily mean a deity. It is a framework that makes decisions for you when you lose control. You need to choose a trading strategy and strictly implement it for several months. You cannot change it halfway, nor can you modify it while in the process. Set clear punishment rules, and they must be painful enough.

For example, when breaking the rules:

Transfer ten thousand dollars to a friend immediately ) I am very happy to be this friend (,

or do 50 push-ups right away,

Or post on X: "I am a revenge trader idiot."

Just two steps to get rid of 80% of bad trades.

The Cucumber Cat states that although this is just two steps out of 12, as long as these two steps are thoroughly executed, 80% of bad trades will disappear directly. Why is this method effective? Because long-term addiction recovery is not fundamentally about willpower, but about maintaining awareness.

A person who has been free from addiction for 30 years might say, "I have a disease that will never be cured; I can only manage it every day." But someone who relapsed after three months would say, "I’m fine now; I’ve quit." Cucumber Cat points out that trading is the same way; the moment you think you’ve completely mastered trading, you are actually starting to lose control.

Society will tell you: "You are a genius. You are a killer. You are very ambitious."

No, you're just addicted.

This article features a well-known trader: Trading is a more harmful addiction than drugs, with two steps to help you quit 80% of bad trades. It first appeared on Chain News ABMedia.