Shrink Rap: Trauma, Traipsing and Trading

Dear Shrink Rap: I suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. My eight-year trauma ended three years ago. I've been studying trading continuously while working out the PTSD. I know how to trade -- my problem is concentration. When I relapse, it's very difficult to trade, so I don't. I haven't traded for two months. Do you think meditation classes would be the next best thing to try? -- R.J.

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Shrink Rap: In a previous column, I listed several ways I believe meditation may be useful to the trader in knowing his own thoughts and managing his emotions and decision-making. The ability to concentrate is one of these benefits.

You haven't provided enough information to describe exactly what happens when you relapse. If what you mean is that something outside of trading triggers your stress symptoms to the point that you're unable to focus on your trading, meditation alone might not be enough to improve your concentration. In fact, as I explain below, it could make things worse, depending on the type of practice you choose. ...