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As we wrap up the week, we are looking at high-quality swing trade setups to hold over the weekend. Plus, with the market staging a massive pump today, we break down whether it’s time to fade this rally or ride the upward momentum [tap to join us for Profit Panel]
I need to be honest with you about something that’s been on my mind lately: I struggle with puts.
And I don’t mean that I lose money on every bearish trade — we’ve had wins, like the MSTR put that worked out on Thursday and the Snap puts we played recently.
What I mean is that even when the market is clearly handing me bearish signals, I find myself hesitating.
I’m not as good at pattern recognition on the downside compared to going long. It’s not a lack of technical understanding — it’s something deeper, almost psychological.
Part of it comes from the way the market behaves right now.
When regimes shift, you’re usually late, and with so much of the action driven by headlines, social media, geopolitical shocks and random catalysts instead of clean structure, timing becomes especially tricky on bearish setups.
In that kind of environment, taking puts can feel like stepping into chaos. Let me walk you through what I mean…
The Upside Is Easier to Read
When I’m looking at a bullish setup, support and resistance levels practically jump off the chart at me.
If we were back in April and I saw a double bottom forming, I could immediately identify price targets above — maybe one level here, another a bit higher. The patterns feel natural. The levels feel valid.
But when I flip that analysis to the downside, I can do the same technical work, but I don’t think the levels are as valid. There’s something about selling into weakness that makes the support zones feel mushier, less trustworthy.
It’s harder to know when the bottom will be during sell-offs. And that uncertainty makes me gun-shy, even when everything else is telling me to act.
Lately I’ve even found myself getting hesitant with calls, because the lack of structure on the downside has started bleeding into my confidence on the upside too.
There are moments when volume cuts through all that noise. Sometimes a candle bounces, but the volume under it is overwhelmingly bearish, and that alone tells me there’s real conviction underneath.
Those are the moments that help me stay in a trade despite the psychological discomfort, because the market is giving me something objective to anchor to.
Still, it’s not just hesitation that affects me — it’s the sting of opportunities missed. I’ve seen traders make gutsy moves, like stepping in front of aggressive momentum or selling premium in places I wouldn’t touch.
Sometimes those trades work, sometimes they don’t, but each one is a reminder that playing scared can be just as costly as playing reckless.
Why This Matters and What I’m Doing About It
I’d rather trade in a trending market, and right now the trend has been pointing down on some names.
The signals have been there. But my comfort zone has always been going long — identifying where buyers might step in, not where sellers will keep pressing.
And real-world events can amplify that discomfort. When a company like Apple suddenly raises prices or a geopolitical headline hits the feed, sentiment shifts instantly.
Things that should be simple setups become layered with hesitation and second-guessing, especially when you’re already predisposed to distrust the downside.
I’m sharing this because I think a lot of traders feel the same way but don’t talk about it. We’re wired to think about markets going up. Spotting a bounce off support feels cleaner than trying to time capitulation.
But ignoring the bearish side because it’s uncomfortable? That’s leaving money on the table.
So I’m working on it. I’m forcing myself to apply the same discipline to downside setups that I use on the upside. I’m watching for continuation patterns in sell-offs the same way I’d watch for breakouts in rallies.
I’m leaning more on volume to guide conviction and less on instinct alone. And I’m trying to get past the psychological block that makes puts feel riskier than calls, even when the risk is identical.
If you’ve felt this same hesitation, you’re not alone.
The best thing we can do is acknowledge it, study it and trade through it — one setup at a time.
To better trading,
Alex Reid
WealthPin
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*This is for informational and educational purposes only. There is inherent risk in trading, so trade at your own risk.
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