Anyone get physically sick from Stock Market losses.

I get sick from Stock Market losses

  • Yes

  • No

  • A little


Results are only viewable after voting.

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
I was a wreck on a $60,000 loss a few years ago. Every year, the $3,000 carry over loss (taxes) still makes me feel bad (as did your thread reminding me about it).

I was unable to function realistically for a few weeks.
 

SandEagle

Lifer
Aug 4, 2007
16,809
13
0
i don't invest in the stock market, but i do get sick seeing others get rich off of it.
 

crownjules

Diamond Member
Jul 7, 2005
4,858
0
76
What is a stock market loss?

I kid, I kid. I haven't got enough invested in the stock market to lose large amounts. But I also understand that it's part of the game. You can't win every time. It's all about money management.
 

overst33r

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
5,761
12
81
If you lose enough to make you sick or unable to sleep, your asset allocation was too aggressive.
 

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
I've been down 5 figures during short crashes, but I always made them back. Definitely got nervous, did a lot of FMLing, never sick. Always knew I'd make it back in one form or another.

Now that I know more what I'm doing, I don't put much thought into it.
 

Arcadio

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2007
5,637
24
81
I started investing after the collapse of 2008-09, so I've never seen a drop in my investments (mostly index funds). I don't know what it feels like to see your net worth drop like a rock, but I'm in it for the long term, so I'm not worried.
 

PricklyPete

Lifer
Sep 17, 2002
14,582
162
106
I just tell myself it is coming back...just wait it out. I could imagine it would suck if I was 55 and something like the recession hit... But I am only 35 and have plenty of years to see it through.
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
If you lose enough to make you sick or unable to sleep, your asset allocation was too aggressive.

Or, in my case, I simply fucked up royally. I had no exit strategy other than hoping that it would come back up....it didn't.

The rest is history (and 14 more years of 'future' tax write off carry-overs).
 

PricklyPete

Lifer
Sep 17, 2002
14,582
162
106
Or, in my case, I simply fucked up royally. I had no exit strategy other than hoping that it would come back up....it didn't.



The rest is history (and 14 more years of 'future' tax write off carry-overs).


I am assuming this was a specific stock and not a fund?
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
I just tell myself it is coming back...just wait it out. I could imagine it would suck if I was 55 and something like the recession hit... But I am only 35 and have plenty of years to see it through.

That's what I did....until it didn't. Had to call Schwab and ask them to waive the selling fee as it took my account negative - yes, I owed more than the account was worth. Telling yourself that it will come back is a losing strategy for the most part.
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
I am assuming this was a specific stock and got a fund?

Yes. I'm not allowed to buy individual stocks again. I had to promise my wife that and I respect the fact that she was so forgiving to keep that promise.

On a side note, I followed the above lose by not selling anything during the big drop of the 'great recession'. I watched my funds in my 401k drop 64%. I almost quit at that point and threw in the towel. If I had, I would have been really sick at this point.
 

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
I only gamble with 401k, and it's 1/2 of my companies money so no big deal.

I do not gamble on wall street otherwise.
 

PricklyPete

Lifer
Sep 17, 2002
14,582
162
106
That's what I did....until it didn't. Had to call Schwab and ask them to waive the selling fee as it took my account negative - yes, I owed more than the account was worth. Telling yourself that it will come back is a losing strategy for the most part.



Yes. I'm not allowed to buy individual stocks again. I had to promise my wife that and I respect the fact that she was so forgiving to keep that promise.



Well I would agree with you with regard to single stocks to some degree (would be dependent on the stock), but I definitely disagree if it is an index fund of a mutual fund with a solid history. While history is no guarantee, it is a safe bet in my mind that a portfolio with a diversified mix of solid funds will rebound. I have more than fully recovered from the recession just like my father did in past market dips. I am confident the market will have more adjustments in the future and will recover in time. I will get less aggressive as I get older, but I will try to time that as best I can when I feel the market is in a good position. We'll see how it works out for me.
 

overst33r

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
5,761
12
81
That's what I did....until it didn't. Had to call Schwab and ask them to waive the selling fee as it took my account negative - yes, I owed more than the account was worth. Telling yourself that it will come back is a losing strategy for the most part.

So you sold and locked in your losses? I'm curious if you didn't sell, where would that stock be today?

It sucks you had to learn that way, but I'm sure you're now aware...

Individual stocks = gambling/speculating
Buy & Hold Indexes/MFs= investing
 

Alienwho

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2001
6,766
0
76
It's only a loss if you sell. You should always do the exact opposite of what the masses are doing and what your gut is telling you.

Did it crash and you're feeling sick cause you 'lost' a ton of money and every fiber of your being is screaming SELL AND CUT YOUR LOSSES!? Double down and put as much in as you can because you are buying at a discount. It will always come back, and if it doesn't come back then the entire world has crashed and we've entered post apocalyptic mode anyway and your money wouldn't be worth shit anyhow.

I'm talking about a good spread fund here, not an individual company. Yes that's much more dangerous.
 
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child of wonder

Diamond Member
Aug 31, 2006
8,307
176
106
No physically ill but watching my company's stock have a nice week of gains completely destroyed plus more for no apparent reason whatsoever really pisses me off.

The stock market today is a joke. Nothing but a bunch of computers instantly trading stocks based on Twitter, newsfeeds, etc. A butterfly farts in Mongolia and the entire market crashes. It's ridiculous.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
No. I buy and hold stock index mutual funds and ETFs, forever.

When you're investing over decades instead of day trading, a drop in the market means nothing except possibly a buying opportunity. I did very well buying during the last crash.

Edit: and when you're buying a broad index like the S&P 500 you don't need to spend any time looking at individual companies or worrying about an Enron. Your eggs are in 500 baskets not one.
 
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Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
So you sold and locked in your losses? I'm curious if you didn't sell, where would that stock be today?

It sucks you had to learn that way, but I'm sure you're now aware...

Individual stocks = gambling/speculating
Buy & Hold Indexes/MFs= investing

I took it a step further....I not only went in 'whole hog' (as they say), I was so sure that I had a winner that I went in margin too. I had no choice but to sell (as account went negative). I owed more money (after sale) than the account had in it (about $10 - but Schwab waived that). On top of that, found out that CEO and other executives were cooking the books in the background (got $800 back in class action lawsuit a few years later).

Yes, I learned a hard lesson during that time...one that I NEVER forget.....and one that I am forever grateful that my wife forgave....
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
Well I would agree with you with regard to single stocks to some degree (would be dependent on the stock), but I definitely disagree if it is an index fund of a mutual fund with a solid history. While history is no guarantee, it is a safe bet in my mind that a portfolio with a diversified mix of solid funds will rebound. I have more than fully recovered from the recession just like my father did in past market dips. I am confident the market will have more adjustments in the future and will recover in time. I will get less aggressive as I get older, but I will try to time that as best I can when I feel the market is in a good position. We'll see how it works out for me.

Sorry, I thought you were talking about individual stocks when I replied. Index funds, I tend to think you can hold on and they come back....at least as evidence of the crash of the great recession.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
19
81
I started investing after the collapse of 2008-09, so I've never seen a drop in my investments (mostly index funds). I don't know what it feels like to see your net worth drop like a rock, but I'm in it for the long term, so I'm not worried.
Just resist the urge to panic and go twiddling with what's in there, lest you get yourself into trouble. ;)




No physically ill but watching my company's stock have a nice week of gains completely destroyed plus more for no apparent reason whatsoever really pisses me off.

The stock market today is a joke. Nothing but a bunch of computers instantly trading stocks based on Twitter, newsfeeds, etc. A butterfly farts in Mongolia and the entire market crashes. It's ridiculous.
So get an index fund.
Rather than betting on a slot machine or two or three, take home a portion of the casino's income. Riding the average is really not bad at all. Our culture just attaches a lot of stigma to "average."
 
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ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,810
126
Losses always sting far worse than the same gain. I've been sick before and wanted to vomit plenty of times. Whenever I feel like this, I try to tell myself to hold my nose and buy more aggressively but that's easier said than done.
 

child of wonder

Diamond Member
Aug 31, 2006
8,307
176
106
So get an index fund.
Rather than betting on a slot machine or two or three, take home a portion of the casino's income. Riding the average is really not bad at all. Our culture just attaches a lot of stigma to "average."

My own personal investments are diversified. The reason I call out my company's stock is because I was gifted a large number of shares. It's not at a level yet where I'd like to sell so I just sit and wait. It's just upsetting seeing the thing crash 2.5% in a day for no reason at all after a nice week of ~2% total gains.