BP, This will be my 13th year of trading and I can say what happened to you has happened to me. Not to the tune of 25k but hell I remember sending orders with my fist. That's probably 8-9 years ago.
You'll be back. Once it's in your blood you can't leave, so admit it and prepare to learn from your mistakes next time.
Your posts are so predictable now. I have read a few of your 3179 posts. (More than I want) Basically they are all around the same theme of: - Nobody can make money by trading. - If you make money by trading, you are only lucky. - You lose because you day trade. - Nobody makes money trading except your brokers. - I don't trade. I invest. - Trading is the same as gambling. You should save a generic post and re-post it every time. It will save you some typing.
I have never seen a trader in seventeen years who added to a losing position as a strategy and wasn't overtaken by risk of ruin. Now, if a trader can manage to add to winners and scale out of his profits, then he becomes very wealthy.
If it works...Do it again! That "dbl down...get back to even in the same trade" mentality is mindless. Pump the winners; cut the losers or reverse them. If it didn't work the first time...why do it again?
I agree ga with everything you've written. Also, what you're describing doesn't only apply to trading it's pretty much any endeavor or occupational success. Life is an all-star game. You have to have the passion, determination, and persistance to do what it takes to succeed. Everybody wants it but few will go the distance. As for 99.9% of traders failing. I'd add that 99.9% of people can't play in the NBA, NFL, drive a mining truck, fly a fighter jet, run a fortune 500 company, etc, etc,. The amount of money at stake in trading is on par with being one of the elite and people definitely underestimate the time and character development necessary let alone assessing talent qualities. If you have talent applicable to trading that should drive your edge.