Have you ever heard the term “getting stuck in a Doi” often in the investment world? Most new investors usually wonder what it is, and why every investor is so afraid of this.

Put simply, getting stuck in a Doi happens when we buy various assets—whether stocks, crypto, or other assets—with the belief that the price will rise. But something unexpected happens: the price falls quickly. Instead of cutting losses by selling, we keep hoping that one day the price will come back, and we choose to keep holding it—again and again. That is exactly what it means to get stuck in a Doi.

Why does this happen? Mostly for three reasons.

First is buying based on momentum. For example, a certain stock’s price rises from 5 baht to 10 baht within a few weeks because the market sentiment is very good, and there is a lot of trading volume. As a result, many people end up buying at 10 baht, expecting it to keep going up. But after that, the stock price drops back down to 3 baht, with no sign that it will rise again. Investors who bought at 10 baht then choose to keep holding, waiting for the price to rebound. This is the classic case of getting stuck in a Doi.

Second is believing rumors with no clear source. Sometimes good news in the market may be created to get people to buy. Once the major shareholders have sold off, the news disappears. Trading volume shrinks, the price doesn’t move, and you end up getting stuck in a Doi as well.

Third is buying a good stock, but at an expensive price. Sometimes we study a stock and find that its fundamentals are very solid, but we enter late when the price is already high. When bad news comes out and the price drops, we refuse to sell because we believe it will rise again. Getting stuck in a Doi can happen this way too.

So can you avoid getting stuck in a Doi? Yes, definitely.

The first method is to set a clear Stop Loss point from the moment you start investing. For example, if you are willing to accept a 5% loss, set it right away. If the price drops to that level, you must sell immediately—so you don’t let yourself stay stuck in a Doi for too long.

The second method is for short-term traders: you need to set a sell point to take profit. For example, if you buy at 5 baht, set it so you will sell at 5.2 baht. The moment it touches that level, sell—don’t wait for it to rise further. This method is called Scalping, and it helps you secure consistent profits while avoiding getting stuck in a Doi.

The third method is to study the stock before buying every time. Check the fundamentals and performance, including the P/E Ratio. You should not buy based on momentum or emotions. Decisions like that often lead to getting stuck in a Doi.

The final method is averaging down. If you’ve studied and truly believe the stock has good fundamentals, but the price drops, you can buy more at a lower price to reduce your average cost. When the price rises again, you can make a profit—and once again, you’ve already gotten out of the Doi.

In summary, getting stuck in a Doi is not something unavoidable. If we have the right mindset, a clear investment plan, and know how to manage risk, then getting stuck in a Doi won’t come looking for us. But if we invest without thinking, getting stuck in a Doi is natural. So study well, set a clear plan, and invest with awareness.