Revenge trading usually describes a sequence where a loss creates urgency to recover quickly. A journal cannot know your intention, but it can reveal observable patterns that are consistent with that behaviour.
Patterns to look for
- A new entry only minutes after closing a loss.
- Higher size or risk than the previous trade.
- A sudden switch of strategy, market or timeframe.
- Entries that do not meet all plan conditions.
- Several trades in a very short window.
- Worse results and plan adherence after the first loss.
Analyze sequences, not isolated trades
Sort trades chronologically and label their position within the session. Compare the first, second, third and later trades after a loss. This may show whether execution quality deteriorates as the sequence develops.
Watch for changes in risk
If your plan defines stable risk, increasing it immediately after a loss is a useful data point. The same applies to widening stops, changing targets without criteria or adding positions mainly to recover a previous loss.
Measure a pause rule
Test one concrete intervention: a mandatory pause, an additional checklist after a loss or a maximum number of attempts. The journal lets you compare behaviour before and after the rule.