How To Know When Each Zodiac Sign Is Hopelessly Broken

We’ve all been there – whether it’s heartbreak, losing a job, depression, or something else that’s got us down, most of us have had the unfortunate experience of feeling hopelessly defeated.

Every zodiac sign deals with these dark emotions differently, and there are ways to tell when they are totally broken. Here’s how to know when the star signs are at their lowest, so you can extend a helping hand when a loved one is struggling.

Aries: They Lash Out Frequently

Aries people are deeply uncomfortable with emotions like anxiety and depression, so when they’re feeling broken, they don’t know how to deal with it. They lean on their default negative emotion: anger. Aries people are hot-tempered at the best of times, so when they’re struggling, their outbursts increase in frequency and severity. If your Aries friend is lashing out more than usual, they are probably struggling. Forgive them, but point out that their behavior isn’t okay and ask how you can help.

Taurus: They Change Their Food Habits

Tauruses have a special relationship with food – they use it to celebrate and express their love. But when a Taurus is broken, their eating habits change – they either become completely uninterested in food (a serious red flag for any Taurus), or overeat so much because they’re seeking comfort. If you notice your Taurus pal pushing their plate away or stocking up on unhealthy snacks, it might be a good time to gently offer some assistance. 

Gemini: They Overextend Themselves

Geminis are very logical and practical, so they don’t like dealing with difficult emotions. They’d rather push them away by packing their schedule as full as possible, often double-booking. But this backfires, only making Geminis overextend themselves and creating additional anxiety. They may become so overwhelmed that they shut down completely, erasing their calendar and turning off their phone and email abruptly. If your Gemini friend makes a ton of plans with you, only to disappear, don’t take it personally – they are likely going through something and need patience and understanding.

Cancer: They Retreat and Self-Soothe

Cancers are great at comforting and helping others, but they’re not so great at accepting help themselves. They are, however, very in touch with their emotions, even though they don’t want anyone to see them suffering. So, they retreat to a safe space and shed their tears in private, while practicing self-soothing measures like journaling or taking a bubble bath. They’ll want to handle their struggles on their own, so it may be hard to notice when they’re broken. If they seem down, do things to help without asking – like ordering a delivery of their favorite meal, or giving them some fancy new bath oil to use while they’re recovering. 

Leo: They Throw a Pity Party

Usually, Leos are too proud to let anyone see when they’re down. They hate disappointing others or looking like a failure. They’re also very sunny and optimistic, so it takes a lot to break them. But when they’re broken, they make just as much of a show of it as when they’re feeling good – they throw a pity party. Leo’s bad moods are just as infectious as their good ones, and they want others to participate in their misery. They’ll wail and moan and make a spectacle of being upset, giving others the chance to commiserate and/or comfort them. But since they prefer to suffer in silence for the sake of appearances, it takes a lot for them to get to this point.

Virgo: They Become More Controlling

Virgos are very practical and analytical, so negative emotions frustrate them. Yet they are prone to breakdowns because they set such impossibly high standards for themselves. They battle bad feelings by becoming even more controlling – they think if they can manage everything around them, it will bring inner joy and peace. But the truth is that relinquishing control and giving themselves grace and compassion is how they can truly overcome a breakdown.

Libra: They Surround Themselves With Friends

It can be hard to tell when a Libra is down because they don’t like to complain. Their solution to feeling broken is to surround themselves with friends and loved ones so they don’t have to be alone with their dark thoughts. But they’re always pretty social and outgoing, so it’s a challenge to recognize when they’re being even more extroverted than usual. When a Libra refuses to be alone, it means they’re struggling – so spend as much time with them as possible until they’re back on their feet.

Scorpio: They Dive Deeper Into the Darkness

Scorpio is perhaps one of the best-equipped zodiacs to handle a breakdown. That’s because they are so resilient, knowing that sometimes they need to burn everything down and start over to move forward. They are comfortable with heavy, painful emotions that others find unbearable. Scorpio embraces them, diving deeper into the darkness. They play melancholy music, cry frequently, and let the bad feelings wash over them. When they’re ready, they emerge from the ashes like a rising phoenix, stronger than ever.

Sagittarius: They Run Away

Sagittarians hate facing uncomfortable emotions and they love to travel, so they try to avoid bad feelings by literally running away. If their usual vacation plans have increased in length and frequency, it’s time to check on them. Instead of being happy and excited about their plans, they will seem stressed and frantic. Offer to go on their next adventure with them or make a date to do something fun together in your town, and give them a chance to open up about what’s hurting them.

Capricorn: They Let You See Them Cry

Capricorns hate showing vulnerability, so they have to be truly and deeply broken to let you see them cry. It’s not that they’re insensitive; they’re just really good at hiding their feelings. But a struggling Capricorn will break down in tears in front of you if things are bad enough. Don’t make a scene of their tears, no matter how unusual they are – show them that vulnerability is normal and, whatever you do, DON’T pity them. Offer to take them out to do something luxurious and fabulous, like dinner at a five-star restaurant or a night at the opera. Don’t push them to talk about their feelings, but let them know you’re there if they want to open up.

Aquarius: They Isolate Themselves

Aquarians are lone wolves, so it’s no surprise that they handle feeling broken by isolating themselves. They are very logical and analytical, so complex emotions are difficult for them to navigate. It takes them a while to recognize what they’re feeling, much less process and work through it. You have to strike just the right balance if you want to help them – give them space at first, but when enough time has passed, force them to get out. They need some alone time, but then they need a good friend to push them from their comfort zone and get back out into the world.

Pisces: They Make Art

Unfortunately, Pisces is the zodiac sign most prone to addiction – so when they’re feeling broken, they may turn to their indulgence of choice. But Pisceans are also highly artistic, and they won’t be able to resist turning their emotional pain into some sort of art. When they pour themselves into dark poetry, terrifying paintings, or bizarre dances, it means your Pisces friend is suffering. Give them space to create, and show interest in their work. It means a lot to them that you care enough to explore their art and emotions.