How to Deal With Stress, According to Your Zodiac Sign

As the world reckons with the effects of a once-in-a-generation pandemic, we’ve been told to work from home indefinitely and keep far away from friends and family. We’re also trying to maintain our own physical and mental health and temper worries about our careers and our finances, all of which can create a perfect storm of stress and and anxiety. And while it’s natural to give into unavoidable feelings of uncertainty, there are also ways to look at how we respond to stress in relation to where you fall on the zodiac. For example: Aries might bark orders while Pisces swims further away from the problem. In a changed world that’s depending on us all to do our part, astrologer Vanessa Montgomery explains how your zodiac sign often internalizes stressful situations—and how to improve those responses to better navigate our new normal and beyond.

Aries | Aries rising

Capable Aries lives for a challenge—in fact, this is a zodiac sign for whom the biggest obstacle is often not having one. If you can’t take initiative or find a solution, it often results in a short temper and built-up tension. You’re decisive but impulsive, so you may act prematurely to let out the tension rather than take the extra time to think things through and come up with a game plan. Aries typically deals with stress by taking the lead and giving orders, and tends to feel safer being self-reliant. This sign is fearless; if you take the lead by being calm and collected in a crisis, others in your orbit will follow. A firm belief in yourself and your willingness to try to help everyone around you will win the day.

Taurus | Taurus rising

Stress plus challenge equals change, which is no bueno for you, Taurus. Change makes you feel insecure because your role is to maintain. You’ll really dig your heels in when feeling overwhelmed—stress-eat, obsessively check your bank account, become inflexible, and work even harder on the task at hand. Taurus thrives on consistency, stability and material security. When faced with stress or uncertainty, you gather resources—some would call it hoarding—and cleave to a routine. When in doubt, you’ll commit to the status quo rather than move forward blindly into uncharted terrain. You’ll also keep working rather than drop balls at the first sight of flags changing in the wind. Keeping a steady routine helps Taurus in unknown times, and ploughing through it nice and slow is key. Your motto: Keep calm and carry on.

Gemini | Gemini rising

You, dear Gemini, think a lot and talk a lot—and do it even more when feeling challenged. Your nervous system takes the brunt of stress, and you easily can become strung out, frazzled, inconsistent, and flakey. In times of uncertainty, you need to drop out of your mind and dig deep within your body—slow down, breathe deep, and eat grounding, warming food: Think roasted veggies and warm drinks. Gemini is also highly adaptable, so you will look for new solutions to deal with obstacles, talk to everyone, gather the facts. You’re not one to go straight through headfirst, but you will come to terms with what lies ahead quickly, after discussion and googling.

Cancer | Cancer rising

When stressed, Cancer will withdraw and stay close to home, effectively closing the door on your hard shell. You’ll withdraw emotionally into your comfort spot on the couch or under a blanket at your worst. Emotional eating is a sign Cancer is dealing with something challenging, as is becoming overprotective of family or people you consider family—this extends to close colleagues at every level. The water signs are often close to their emotions, so letting out tension in tears is a go-to for this sign. You approach obstacles sideways—like a crab!—but with the help of your inner circle, you can overcome any challenge—especially now—so fire up those Zoom calls or FaceTime chats.

Leo | Leo rising

When stressed, Leo, your signature drama goes up. And the bravado may go up too. However, you’re a fixed sign, so “the show must go on” isn’t just a cliche for you. You’ll power through whatever has challenged you. The best way for fiery Leos to deal with an obstacle is to take a wider view and be less subjective about it. Move beyond the personal, and harness your physical strength and existing courage reserves to tackle any problem.

Virgo | Virgo rising

Virgo, your stress setting is already quite high, and when it tips into the red, your mind takes the brunt as it races with overthinking and worry, running scenarios through your mind looking for a solution. Your inner critic is sharper than most, especially when stressed. You’ll seek control, clamp down your routine—perhaps a cleaning frenzy will ensue; you’re known to slip into mild obsessive behavior. Part of your challenge, and the best way to beat it, is to simply to let go. Don'’ be so hard on yourself. Your high standards could use a break, especially now.

Libra | Libra rising

Libra can see all the sides in a situation, and becoming stressed leaves you unwilling to make a decision as you can also see the loss involved. For an air sign, there may be too much discussion and not enough action. Focus on the best-case scenario and get moving on dealing with the challenge. Libra functions well in a dynamic duo, so have someone to work your stress through with, or at least to check in with regularly.

Scorpio | Scorpio rising

Scorpio moves into stealth mode at the drop of a hat, and when stressed, you withdraw, becoming even more private than usual. Exposure leaves this sign feeling unsafe. Your emotions may be tumultuous, and you imagine worst-case scenarios. As a fixed sign, you do not like change or letting go; if you do change, it’s a complete reinvention, like a phoenix. You handle challenges by observing and working out a strategy, then navigating solutions in unlikely ways, like a ninja in the night. Subterfuge was invented by this sign.

Sagittarius | Sagittarius rising

You become scattered when stressed, Sag, as well as unreliable—but you know this. You’ll gallop off to get some space, as you need to move your body and seek new stimulation in order to find solutions. You’re the sign of freedom, and that’s your safety zone, which can be tough when you’re stuck indoors. This sign is adaptable so you’ll try various approaches to an obstacle. Your best bet: to keep your signature humor and remember your larger vision or higher purpose. Things will get better. When you remember that, you’ll have the fortitude to solve almost any problem or surmount any obstacle.

Capricorn | Capricorn rising

Capricorn’s answer to most things is to work more, to seek control, to take on even more responsibility, maybe even to boss everyone around by barking (well-meaning!) orders. As a sign linked to lower moods in times of trouble, you could feel extra melancholy or bleak right now. However, Capricorn does love a challenge and is a realist, always, so there’s no sugarcoating, which can actually be helpful. Your biggest challenge right now: giving yourself a break and finding work-from-home/life balance. Capricorn also doesn’t like to fail, so knowing when to fold ’em or to just let certain things go is essential at this time. Choose your mountain wisely!

Aquarius | Aquarius rising

When stressed, Aquarius will procrastinate and become more emotionally detached, if not flake out on responsibilities altogether. The air signs talk even more when feeling anxious, chasing the tails of worries and concerns while putting off their personal responsibilities by trying to save the turtles, so to speak. You’re noble, but right now attend to your own situation, then save the world.

Pisces | Pisces rising

Pisces often becomes the slippery fish and swims away, leaving the stressful situation behind. You’re famous for living in your own version of fantasyland, and that could be your response to stress, challenges, or crisis. Water finds a way around rather than trying to tackle something head on. It also achieves its aims over time, so gentle persistence, without resistance, is the way to go.

Vanessa Montgomery—aka Astro All-Starz—is a professional counseling astrologer and author of Star Power: A Simple Guide to Astrology for the Modern Mystic. Aimed at enlightenment and seeing past labels to the oneness that unites us all, Montgomery’s work also helps navigate the practical essentials with grounded cosmic intel. Her motto: Free your mind, own your power, create your world.

Originally Appeared on Glamour