Thanks Tim, unfortunately I dont really know anyone in real life...

Thanks Tim, unfortunately I dont really know anyone in real life who actively engage in the stock market. I really appreciate the chance to reach out here, it has been really therapeutic being able to 'talk' to people via the forum, and it really has helped me focus on the bigger picture and feel more in control with better planning, instead of being engulfed by daily changes and losing sight of my original reasons for being in the stock. Yep totally know that feeling in the pit of your stomach! I used to look forward to weekdays and seeing what the markets would do, for quite a while it turned into anxiety instead! As you and pinto said, if you are happy with the long term fundamentals, then you do rest a lot better at night, I forgot about that and for some reason allowed myself to be stuck focusing on daily happenings instead. I am definitely addicted to hotcopper too, it does feel like fossicking for gold so can be good fun but I manage to pull myself away when I need to. As to being prone to anxiety or depression, until recently I never thought I was, but for a while there I was convinced I did not have the right personality to play in the markets without it affecting my health. But for the reasons I have already stated I feel much more at ease after being able to lay out my worries and hearing from smarter investors on how to keep composure and not be distracted by what is mostly irrelevant market noise. With your eggs, I hope that it really pays off for you , I like the insurance of diversification but I can definitely see your angle too !

Hi 64, thanks again regarding the use of books as a guide. Pretty insightful passage, amazes me how it still applies 80-90yrs after it was written! Fortunately I am aware of the 2% rule via a Guppy book, its great but I confess I did not follow it a couple of times and paid dearly for it. And the $5000 trading idea in STT is a great concept. Perhaps it would be a good starting point to practice with spec stocks and ST goals while keeping larger parcels kept in longer term holdings .

Once again thanks everyone. It's been a pleasure and I am grateful to everyone here for helping me overcome what felt like being trapped in a dark cycle of dread and stress. It was shocking! But I feel really good now and happy and in control of my investments and decisions. I feel like I am hogging the education forum atm , so will step aside and allow the thread be used by anyone else who may have questions of their own if need be .

Thank you all again

Mick