Getting to about the end of last year , around November - December there about, a bold decision was made: to step into the world of futures trading. What started as a promising venture quickly became a rollercoaster ride, one full of steep highs and painful lows that reshaped how I see both finance and risk.
The Allure of Easy Profits
Futures trading is often painted as the fast lane to financial freedom. It looked like anyone could make it. So I bought some USDT, funded my wallet, and jumped in with both feet. Like many beginners, I started by shadowing a couple of social media traders (whose names I’ll keep private).
Eventually, I began exploring other sources mostly YouTube, which became my crash course in technical and fundamental analysis. I was soaking in every tutorial and tactic I could find, determined not to leave any stone unturned.
The Honeymoon Phase
With a modest startup capital, I began small. The early wins were real enough to boost my confidence and fuel the illusion that I had cracked the code. Excitement turned into obsession. I added more funds, started taking riskier positions, and unknowingly pushed beyond what I could afford to lose. And that’s when the cracks started showing.
Chasing Losses and Upping Leverage
To recover some early losses, I increased my leverage. Bad move. Futures trading, especially in crypto, is a game of high volatility. More leverage means faster wins, but also faster losses. Quick market reversals hit hard. Liquidations became the new normal. Thankfully, I was using Isolated Margin, so my entire account wasn’t wiped out. But that didn’t stop the bleeding. I was caught in a loop: profit a little, lose a lot. At first, I didn’t understand why. Later, I realized I had ignored one of the most vital parts of trading: risk management.
The Power of a Stop-Loss
One tool I wish I had used earlier is the stop-loss. It’s a trader’s first line of defense. An automated exit if the trade goes against the target. By the time I fully understood its importance, I had already lost more than I care to admit. Especially as a day trader, where timing and precision matter most, managing risk isn’t optional, it’s survival.
Emotions: The Silent Killer
Here’s the brutal truth, trading and emotions don’t mix. Whether you win or lose, you’ve got to stay level-headed. No excitement, no sorrow. Just neutrality. But how do you turn off emotion as a human being? You don’t. You evolve. Or you don’t trade. Simple as that. In futures, emotional trades are fatal. One emotional trigger, what we call FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) can dismantle hours of solid decision-making. Acting on impulse, assuming you’ll miss “the big move,” is a fast-track to disaster. Trust me, we've been there.
Understanding Volatility
Markets move for many reasons; geopolitical news, economic data, even tweets from influential figures like Elon Musk and co triggers shift shift in market. These events send shockwaves through the market, and without proper strategy or timing, you’ll be left holding the bag. Trading major pairs can help reduce shocks in most cases, as they tend to react slower to such triggers. But even then, it’s a game of awareness.
Stepping Back to Move Forward
Eventually, the losses piled up, and I knew I had to hit pause. Mental health is ones greatest concern, and I needed space to rebuild. I’m not ashamed to admit that now my demo account is my best friend. One event that really hit me hard was the case of James Wynns—a respected trader who lost big to what looked like an emotional trade. It reminded me that even the pros fall, especially when emotion creeps in. What I’ve Learned It hasn’t been all loss—there’s been plenty of learning too.
My key takeaways:
Emotion has no place in trading.
Risk management isn’t optional t’s essential and mandatory.
Have a plan.
Know when to stop.
Mindset matters more than methods.
Practice in a safe space before risking real capital.
Futures trading is not for the fainted of heart. It’s a game for the steady-minded. The “dead men,” as we often say in trading circles. If you’re not ready to detach from emotion, build discipline, and respect the market, it might not be your battleground. But if you’re willing to learn, unlearn, and keep going, you might just survive the fire without getting burned. Your thoughts and experiences are welcomed. I think they are seriously needed in case its needful to get back to the war grounds. Very necessary.
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