People rarely admit it, but losing money can actually feel thrilling. You might not consciously label it that way, but your brain's reward system registers the emotion differently than you'd expect.

For certain traders, especially those wired for competition, there's a genuine adrenaline rush in fighting back when the odds flip against you. That sensation—the grind, the comeback attempt, the push through adversity—can trigger the same neurochemical response as actually winning.

It's why some of the most dangerous traders are the ones chasing losses. The brain gets addicted not just to gains, but to the feeling of defying expectations.