Burnout in the Bull Run—Why Even Success in Crypto Can Be Dangerous

When the market surges, it feels like the moment of truth: the long-awaited reward for enduring patience, calculated risks, and genuine belief. During a bull run, thousands quickly become tens of thousands. New projects sprout like mushrooms (though many will turn out to be scams), and news feeds buzz with reports of new all-time highs. 

Sometimes, however, the attractive facade of financial success can hide psychological and physical exhaustion.

Here’s why winning the crypto race can lead to personal collapse and how to avoid it.

When Euphoria Becomes a Trap

A bull market sparks genuine emotional highs and euphoria in investors and traders. This state forms on a purely chemical level, as surging crypto wallet figures release dopamine (the pleasure hormone).

What makes euphoria dangerous in financial markets? Primarily, it triggers FOMO (fear of missing out), prompting rash actions:

• Buying at peaks
• Using excessive leverage
• Ignoring diversification

Financial discipline—the alpha and omega of trading—recedes, replaced by impulsivity.

Another trap is a feeling of infallibility. In a bull market, even accidental successes appear as personal genius. This creates the illusion that your actions are always correct, leading you to ignore potential risks.

Ultimately, euphoria drowns out common sense. When the trend changes direction, the blow hurts your wallet and your self-esteem.

No Days Off, No Breaks

The crypto market operates 24/7, without weekends or holidays. This creates the illusion you must engage non-stop, fearing you’ll miss critical movements. As a result, many traders and investors lose healthy work-life boundaries in this environment.

Every news or update seems critically important. You develop a habit of checking prices at night, losing your sense of time. This disrupts sleep and, consequently, increases stress and lowers productivity.

Freelancers and entrepreneurs are especially vulnerable; a lack of external control promotes self-exploitation. Additionally, Web3 culture romanticizes constant involvement, which only accelerates professional and emotional burnout.

Without clear boundaries and a gentler routine, individuals endure constant tension. Chronic stress directly impairs cognitive functions, increases irritability, and causes mental exhaustion.

Skewed Perceptions of Normal Income

Rapid price increases over short periods distort what people consider normal, and extreme returns start to seem standard. Stories of 10x or 100x portfolio growth make a typical 5–10% increase feel like a failure. This creates a manic pursuit of high returns and constant excitement, while modest results bring disappointment or even anxiety.

Such distortion shifts expectations: risks appear justified, and long-term strategies seem boring and ineffective. Some people start making overly aggressive investment decisions or lose interest in real life outside the volatile market.

As a result, emotional stability erodes: a tendency toward impulsive actions grows, and everything unrelated to crypto feels less valuable.

However, it’s worth remembering that a stable, balanced life is the true normal, not an endless chase for an ephemeral “to the moon.” For long-term success, you must learn to accept this norm without distortion.

Psychological Overload

As deposits grow, your psyche can experience intense pressure. The fear of losing all profits due to a sudden market reversal drives constant chart monitoring, anxiety, and heightened susceptibility to news.

This “crash anxiety” causes insomnia, anxiety disorders, and sometimes even panic attacks. Instead of enjoying real, local successes, you live in a state of perpetual tension.

The illusion of needing complete control over the situation exacerbates the problem. Any setback creates a feeling of inadequacy, even with minor losses.

The crypto community also stigmatizes weakness. This discourages open discussions about failures, making it difficult to find support and deepening feelings of loneliness.

More on the psychological aspects of crypto trading: The Entry Paralysis: Why Traders Fear a Bad Start

Social Competition and Isolation

During bull runs, social pressure intensifies. Digital spaces often feature stories of rapid success (the so-called survivor bias), amplifying feelings of comparative inadequacy. 

Even significant success can feel insufficient when compared to others’ results. This undermines self-confidence, fosters self-isolation, and lowers the quality of social interactions, creating a rift from those outside the crypto industry. You start to believe that others don’t understand what’s happening or what you’re going through, leading you to feel like an outcast. Ultimately, even financial achievements bring no satisfaction. 

A lack of mutual understanding and genuine communication can turn success into a psychological trap.

More on the topic: How Crypto Trading Affects Friendships and Romance

How to Stay Sane During a Crypto Boom

To avoid burnout amid success, adopt practices that help maintain inner balance:

• Plan downtime. Pre-scheduled rest preserves your work capacity and prevents overexertion.
• Limit information. Reducing news consumption and chart checking lowers anxiety and helps you focus on key tasks.
• Practice digital detox. Time away from screens reduces stress and restores concentration.
• Engage in reflection. Keep a journal or notes to process events and identify signs of overwork.
• Maintain connections outside the crypto market. Real-life interactions with friends and family strengthen emotional resilience.

Trading success isn’t just about impressive profits; it’s also about maintaining psychological balance. True success in crypto, measured by portfolio gains, must also translate into a successful offline life. To achieve this, you definitely need to cultivate composure and rational thinking.

Take breaks, build strong connections with reality, and take care of your physical health.

Related: Crypto Traders’ Daily Habits for Success in a Shaky Market