A turbulent few years for stocks has led to a boom in therapy services for stressed out traders

• After a stressful few years for stocks, traders are flooding the offices of therapists and mental health professionals.
• Trading is always somewhat stressful, but intense losses in 2022 made it even worse, traders say. 
• Wall Street is seeing elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, psychologists told Insider.

Megan, a full-time trader based in California, was one of the many investors who saw their portfolio struggling in 2022, the year markets were upended by a historic campaign of monetary policy tightening that drove the S&P 500 down 20% for its worst performance since 2008.

A perfectionist, Megan’s losses bothered her deeply. When she was at her most stressed, she wanted to spend 14-16 hours a day in front of her computer before she finally sought help with a trading psychologist to help manage her emotions.