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Hi Otto, I tried to use ninjatrader strategy builder, But it is not easy as it sounds. Does it require any coding or anything? let say I want to backtest a specific indicator and possible winning ratio and stop loss
The symptoms are all too familiar. I usually get it if my size is too large.
Backtesting is definitely part of the solution, and if you don't know how to code you can do it manually. Write down the rules and manually test 100 trades. Write down the results and do some basic stats: percent of winning trades, sizes of winning trades etc. etc. It is a headache, but without it you won't have confidence. I saw the vide of some guy who said he tested Dow index from inception, day by day.
Look up "backtesting trading strategy" on Youtube, there are some very good videos.
Once you figure out something that works you have to look into money management.
As others have said, first try trading the micro ES rather than the mini. (/MES, not /ES). They trade almost identically but the commissions will play a much bigger role in your success. If you can make money with MES, you can make money with ES. Also, if you're getting stopped out because your stops are set too tight, that *could* be why you lose too often with stops. That is also a possible sign of anxiety about losing money. It's normal, but you do have to work at conditioning yourself through practice and mental exercise. My first trades I kept my /MES stops at about 8 - 10 ticks away from entry price. But, I found that increasing that to 1-1/2 times (today, I was stopped at about 7 points at times due to volatility) whatever the ATR is on the 1-minute charts made me more profitable. I ideally, you want to make sure that there is a support/resistance barrier between your stop and your entry price, especially if you keep tight stops. Just be careful how far out you put your stops... you can lose even more money if they're too far out, than you can when they're too tight. Personally, I found NinjaTrader's "ATM" strategies relieved me of most of my anxiety. ATM's are simple pre-configured orders that you set up ahead of time. Then, you basically click the button to buy or sell. It simultaneously issues a stop and take profit limit order that is "one cancels the other". That way, there is zero decisions to make after you click that entry order. It's in Fate's hands at that point. Whatever you are going to win or lose, it was done the moment you clicked that button. Take a 5 minute walk and you'll most likely be out of the trade when you return.
This is VERY bad for health. You must find a solution for this before it becomes life threatening. The main reason is your position size is too big. And go to a longer time-frame. This will solve your problem:
Rule 01: Small position size
Rule 02: Longer time frame
In other words move to swing trading with a small position size!
Do this until you become comfortable. After than you can increase the position size gradually and go to shorter time frames. Hope this helps!
Hi . I actually trade with 1 contract and it is funded account. I lost 3300 usd yesterday but when i even open order 1 contract for 1 point, my heart rate increases and hands shaking . I dont know why my body reacts like that since i lose 100 usd account not that money.
Try trading options. You can trade longer timeframes with weekly and monthly options. There is no necessity to use a stop loss and you will not get whipsawed by intraday volatility. You will have plenty of time to make decisions to exit trades without any adrenaline rush.
The following may sounds a bit unusual, but is the way to manage the problem in other way/s. Most of what is said here is when it comes to pure futures trading. But one or an other thing I didn't see, maybe I missed it, is the topic "Physical Fitness" and "Strategical trading".
Of course, "Mental fitness" is an enormously important aspect of trading. It also helps to live a simple life without a lot of noise with any personal and other problems so that you can concentrate on the matter at hand.
But what helps without if and but to reduce the heartbeat is to have a healthy and well-trained heart. And you can achieve this only by training it over and over again with sports activities. Exercise as much as possible. Here in Zurich, when I tap my feet at noon or early in the morning at 7:00 a.m. along the lake to go to an appointment later on, I always meet the same people who are already jogging at this time. At noon it is the people who work in the banks and insurance companies which have their offices mainly on the right bank of Lake Zurich in Zurich City. This is just one example of how you can do it.
Personally, I went to the fitness center at least three times a week in active times. Today, as a retired person, I do three hours of fast foot marches three times a week, in all weathers, to strengthen my immune system and keep fit, and to keep my heart strong. So much for fitness.
As told at begin: There is also another component to keep the heart rate low and this is called: "Have a clear trading strategy".
Define in advance what step you want to take and when, be it with the stop loss, be it with a new option leg. Do this in writing or with analysis pictures as I have done in options strategy trading for years. There were the whole plans/strategies in advance through-played with the respective necessary software tools.
And if nothing helps anymore and you can't stop trading and you can't move much, then discuss with your doctor the option to treat yourself with beta blockers. They bind the adrenaline in the blood and thus you automatically have a calmer heartbeat, because the adrenaline in the blood stimulates the heart. But this should really be the last solution as moving and training your body will be far more effective to you, even you get older.
I'm not a doctor, but have you tried taking 25mg of diphenhydramine HCI? That's the fancy name for Benadryl, an OTC antihistamine and also sleep aid. It was originally used as an antidepressant.
Anyway, long story short, try popping one of these and see if you feel less excitable. I know I do.
Some traders will advise against any psychoactive substances. I say leave no unturn stoned.
