What Kind of Anxious Trader Are You?
We break down the Mind over Markets 12 Trader Anxiety Types.
Have you ever bailed early on a trade even though your plan said to hold? Or hesitated so long the setup passed you by completely?
That... is anxiety on the charts.
We don’t always call it that. Sometimes we call it “risk management.” Sometimes we say, “I just wasn’t sure.”
But underneath it, for a lot of traders, is fear.
And that fear doesn’t look the same for every trader. That’s the part we’re going to talk about today.
Because you don’t trade your strategy — you trade your emotional wiring. And until you understand how your specific anxiety type shows up in your behavior, there’s a good chance you’ll keep repeating the same loops, no matter what strategy you use.
This post is adapted from our live class called "What Kind of Anxious Trader Are You?"
And no, this isn’t a diagnosis. I’m not a doctor. This isn’t about labeling you as broken or weak.
This is about building self-awareness and using that insight to shape a system that actually works for you — not for Bob, not for Jimmy, not for Warren Buffet. For you.
There’s not just one kind of trading anxiety. There are actually 12 distinct patterns I’ve seen in the traders I’ve worked with — patterns that explain everything from hesitation, to panic-selling, to overtrading, to perfectionism, and more.
Each of these anxiety types has:
A core behavior you might see on the chart
A mental loop that fuels it behind the scenes
And believe it or not… a hidden strength underneath it
Because anxiety isn’t just a weakness. Sometimes it’s a signal of something powerful in you — just misdirected.
The 12 Trader Anxiety Types
For the full list with Behaviors, Loops, Reframes, and Identity Reps for all 12 types, visit: [link to class or audio series]
Below are just a few examples:
1. Post-Traumatic Trading Stress (PTTS)
Behavior: You avoid trades after a big loss or crash.
Loop: "What if it happens again?"
Reframe: "I’m not broken — I’m experienced."
Rep: Journal your worst trade. Write 3 lessons it taught you. Say: "I trade what’s in front of me, not my past."
2. Panic Exit Syndrome
Behavior: You sell too fast when a trade dips, even when it's valid.
Loop: "I knew it. It’s happening again."
Reframe: "I’m not impulsive — I’m fast. I just need to retrain the pause."
Rep: Before your next exit, breathe in 3 sec, hold 1, exhale slowly. Ask: "Am I reacting or executing?"
3. Acute Setup Stress
Behavior: You get hyped, anxious, or over-attached to every setup.
Loop: "This one HAS to work."
Reframe: "My intensity isn’t the problem — my lack of regulation is."
Rep: Before first trade Friday, do a physiological sigh. Say: "This trade doesn’t define me — my discipline does."
4. Selective Analysis Mutism
Behavior: You do the prep — but freeze when it’s time to execute.
Loop: "I can’t pull the trigger."
Reframe: "I’m not frozen — I’m overloaded. But I can create space to act."
Rep: Say in the mirror: "Today, I act. Not perfectly — but on purpose." Take the next clean setup, win or lose.
5. Obsessive Chart Disorder (OCD)
Behavior: You over-analyze and wait for perfect confirmation.
Loop: "I just need one more signal..."
Reframe: "Clarity beats complexity."
Rep: Pick one setup before open. Say: "It doesn’t have to be perfect — just clear." Follow it.
6. Hypochondria of Strategy
Behavior: You switch strategies constantly after small losses.
Loop: "Maybe this one doesn’t work anymore."
Reframe: "Conviction needs roots."
Rep: Write: "I commit to this setup for 5 sessions. Adjust after, not during." Set a calendar reminder.
7. Generalized Trading Anxiety
Behavior: You second-guess every trade, even when it follows your plan.
Loop: "What if this isn’t the right setup?"
Reframe: "Uncertainty is part of the game — and I can play anyway."
Rep: Mute chat, take a breath, and say: "I can execute with uncertainty."
8. Specific Trade Phobia
Behavior: You avoid certain plays (e.g., earnings, shorting) from past losses.
Loop: "Those plays always screw me."
Reframe: "I’m not that trader anymore."
Rep: Paper trade one setup you avoid. Say: "I am not the trader who lost — I am the one who learned."
9. Social Trading Anxiety
Behavior: You avoid sharing ideas or losses publicly.
Loop: "What if I look stupid?"
Reframe: "My voice has value."
Rep: Post one idea in chat today. Walk away for 30 minutes. No disclaimers.
10. Attachment-Based Trading
Behavior: You overtrade or can’t stay all cash — constant FOMO.
Loop: "What if I miss the move?"
Reframe: "I don’t trade to feel active. I trade to feel aligned."
Rep: Start flat. Set a 10-min timer before any trade. Say: "I trade to be aligned, not just active."
11. Fear of Volatility
Behavior: You avoid high-energy or uncertain market conditions.
Loop: "It’s too wild. I’ll just wait."
Reframe: "I can train chaos without trading it."
Rep: Watch one volatile session per week and journal your reactions.
12. Substance-Induced Loops
Behavior: Your focus depends on caffeine, weed, alcohol, or other substances.
Loop: "I need this to feel focused."
Reframe: "I create my state. Not the substance. Me."
Rep: Trade one session substance-free. Replace with breathwork. Repeat mantra.
Flip the Script
You don’t have to "fix" your anxiety. You just have to understand it, reframe it, and rep your way into alignment.
Because the real edge isn’t in your setup.
It’s in your self-awareness.
And if you want to go deeper?
Join us inside the Mind Over Markets Audio Series. Or catch the full class recording soon.
But for today?
✅ Pick your top anxiety type
✅ Do one rep from this blog
✅ Log how it made you feel — win or lose
Because the moment you act with intention? You’re not just trading.
You’re training.
You’re casting a vote for the trader you’re becoming.
Check out the live stream above for the full breakdown!!
Reps, Reset, Repeat
