Here's How Being An Aquarius Could Affect Your Mental Health

Being an Aquarius is a unique experience, but not always an easy one. The Water Bearer (January 22-February 19) is arguably the quirkiest of the 12 zodiac sun signs. These are the out-of-the-box thinkers who love to defy authority and convention (per Allure). Aquarians have a passion for fairness and social justice, and it's common to see them working for humanitarian causes; not surprisingly, Oprah Winfrey, Kerry Washington, Michael Jordan, and Mariska Hargitay are all Aquarians. Water Bearers love to stand out from the rest when it comes to fashion, ignoring the raised eyebrows of critics – as Harry Styles and Adam Lambert can attest. Two of America's most famous Aquarians embodied the sign's visionary and world-changing qualities: Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Edison. 

But as with any zodiac sign, Aquarius has its share of negative personality traits and problems. As an air sign (despite the "water" in their name), Aquarius is ruled by their intellect rather than their emotions. Taken to the extreme, that can spell trouble for people born under this sign if they don't recognize the signs of mental distress.

Unlike the super-emotional signs like Pisces and Cancer, Aquarians tend to go in the opposite direction, becoming detached and lacking in empathy, per LoveToKnow. Emotions go against their love of logic and reason, so they tend to deny that they have feelings in the first place. (You could call them the Vulcans of the zodiac.) Then, when their feelings inevitably rise to the surface, Aquarians may not be able to deal with them. The result: sudden bursts of temper and cutting remarks aimed at hurting even their nearest and dearest. Or they may retreat and spend time alone rather than admit to anyone that they're in pain, which in turn can make them feel even more isolated and unhappy.

According to the AstroTwins, Aquarians need to get in touch with their less-logical side in order to achieve the mental balance they crave. "Learning to accept and express their emotions can help Aquarius people avoid the massive freakouts and anger flashes that come from pretending everything's cool when it isn't," they say. This could take the form of professional therapy, or from a heart-to-heart with a trusted friend or partner. They may not be comfortable opening up in such a vulnerable way, but if you can get them to see the reasoning behind this approach, an Aquarius will eventually come around.