ADHD & Trading
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Hi All,
I was wondering if we have any people with ADHD in this group and how they have got on with their ADHD symptoms and trading?
For anyone with ADHD they will know that impulsivity is a big symptom and for me personally this is what is affecting me during my trading. I worry that my ADHD will always hurt my trading and wondering whether it's best to keep going on with it or not so thought I'd come on here and ask the question.
There is also an argument that people with ADHD could be even better at this sort of thing, a common misjudgement with ADHD is that we struggle to focus, in reality it's quite the opposite we actually focus on too many things at once and when we find something we love (in this case could be trading) we can frequently go into hyper focus mode. I come from a matched and value betting background which I thoroughly enjoyed, anyone who knows this knows you have to be somewhat patient (nowhere near as much as trading mind) and I was one of the better value/matched bettors I've come across. Last year for example I profited £36,000, I know there are people making 100,000's matched/value betting but I know out of the 100,000's doing it, probably less than 1% were making what I was.
S yeah there's got to be some good and bad, for me so far with trading it seems the bad traits i possess is outweighing the good but if anyone on here has got ADHD or has an opinion on it, feel free to reply!
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@Akiva-Anderson You're doing god's work my friend, thank you.
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I should also say, if anyone wants to have a chat about ADHD they are more than welcome to contact me. My job was to speak to people about ADHD and provide potentail strategies. I would also provide training to those working with people with ADHD.
It doesn't have to be for yourself. If you have a child / partner or both with ADHD or suspected ADHD, I'm more than willing to have a chat. All this would be free of charge of course!!
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@martin said in ADHD & Trading:
@jordan-whitby my wife says I may have it, she diagnoses it in children for the NHS. I think a lot of people have it but don't realise, I'm definitely hyper focused on things I want to focus on. Tunnel-vision if you will, for me it is an asset.
If you get impulsive to make the wrong trades then try to divert that energy elsewhere at the time. There's a million things to do in the world so go do something else until the urge is gone.
Having a clear trading plan works really well for this, I never go off script for this reason.
So many people have it in the older generation but do not know and never will!! Script is the best idea and just stick to your plan and % stakes!!
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@akiva-anderson I've never heard the line "we think in possibilities not in probabilities" but that's genuinely almost mind blowing to hear, you're so right.
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@akiva-anderson Great reply thank you. I'm thinking of putting myself on a 14 trades a week limit (2 a day average) to combat this.
Both of your replies have put me at ease alot. I'm very appreciative
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Hi @Jordan-Whitby
I have ADHD. I'm 42 and I was diagnosed 21 years ago when I was studying for a degree in Theology & Philosophy at Queen's University Belfast. For the last 12 years I worked for an ADHD charity. I am prescribed ADHD medication, but I rarely take it. I take it if I'm driving long distances as it makes me a safer driver!!
@Martin is correct in regards to a trading plan. It certainly helps me stay on course. Also keep separate banks for different strategies, if possible. I only really have two strategies (1.5 Goals & SHG). I could have many more, but the more I have the more I have to record. The admin side of trading is something I loathe. I hate having to record my trades, though I do see the benefits of it.
Like most things in life with ADHD, the biggest battles you're going to face are in your head. That old adage “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right,”. All those battles are in your head.
People with ADHD tend to have a gambler's mindset. We think in possibilities rather than probabilities. That can be worked on, but it does take time.
When you do f**k up, remember try not to be too hard on yourself. We're awful with criticism even if it's constructive criticism. We're very self critical. Don't be frightened to do the necessary reflection, introspective and self correction though!
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@jordan-whitby my wife says I may have it, she diagnoses it in children for the NHS. I think a lot of people have it but don't realise, I'm definitely hyper focused on things I want to focus on. Tunnel-vision if you will, for me it is an asset.
If you get impulsive to make the wrong trades then try to divert that energy elsewhere at the time. There's a million things to do in the world so go do something else until the urge is gone.
Having a clear trading plan works really well for this, I never go off script for this reason.
