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There's always a rational way to deal with an irrational person.
By Emily Ratay — Written on Jul 11, 2018
Each zodiac sign exhibits irrational behavior differently, but if there's one thing they all have in common, it's that they don't want to listen to anyone else try to tell them what to do.
Irrational behavior happens for a lot of different reasons, and every zodiac sign has a tipping point where they are unable to manage any more emotions or provocations before they snap.
For some zodiac signs, it's having to deal with everyone else's problems and not being able to talk about what's bothering them because no one wants to hear it that's their tipping point.
For other signs, it's how overwhelming life can be and the fact that there are some emotions they just can't handle as well as they wish they could; or that they've been managing the same emotions for a long time and it's suddenly too much for them.
When we become irrational, it sometimes seems like the most rational decision for us at that time. When you have an overload of emotions or problems, and you're not really sure how to handle them like you have been any more, even the smallest thing can be your tipping point.
Maybe it's someone venting to you for the millionth time about their problems or you accidentally spilling your coffee in your car that sets you off, but all of a sudden, you just can't do it anymore.
Some of us know that we're being irrational when something triggers this irrational behavior, but others feel like it makes sense to finally get upset.
Either way, you're now at a point where you don't know what to do and you feel like you want to give up. And if you've ever felt like that before, then you know how hard it can be for someone who's not dealing with this irrational behavior to try to help someone who is acting irrationally.
There are some ways to deal with people when they get like this, but it's also important to remember that every zodiac sign exhibits irrational behavior differently and needs to be dealt with in their own way.
If this is happening because they've been repressing emotions and what's really going on, sometimes the best way to help them is to listen and let them vent about what's upsetting them. Being empathetic, asking questions, and connecting with them by sharing your own, relatable stories also helps.
But sometimes, the best way you can help someone acting irrationally is to detach yourself from the situation. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to ignore them, but it does mean that whatever they say and do is something they're dealing with.
If they take it out on you, it's not meant to be personal, it's just how they're dealing with what's going on. But everyone acts differently when they're being irrational, so you sometimes won't know what they need until you know the situation a little better.
According to astrology, here is how to best deal with an irrational person, by their zodiac sign, by that person's horoscope birth date.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
When Aries is being irrational, it's important to deal with him in a way that makes him feel like he's still in control of the situation. In general, an irrational Aries is dismissive of others and very rash. Tell him he can't handle a situation one way and he'll do it that way specifically because you told him not to. Tell him to wait and think before he acts, and he'll make a rash and impulsive decision on the spot.
To rein in this irrational zodiac sign, you need to be in control – but you need to do it in a way that makes him think he's still in charge. This might mean coming up with your own solutions and letting him take the credit for it, for example. When he's not in his right mind, he won't notice that you're steering him in a certain direction as much. Let him take the credit and give him a pat on the back, and he'll feel much better.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
Like the bull, Taurus absolutely hates to be pushed and prodded in any situation, but especially when he's being irrational. When he's not acting rational, Taurus can be very stubborn and lazy. He won't want to do anything that wasn't his idea in the first place and even then, he can be too lazy to actually get off of his butt and handle whatever is making him so irrational.
Dealing with an irrational Taurus is frustrating, so you have to be patient with him. He can be obstinate if he thinks he's being rushed, so it's better to let him solve his problems on his own time. Soon, he'll figure out that nothing is changing when he continues to be stubborn, and he'll eventually take the necessary steps to solve what's putting him off. It might be a slow process, but slow and steady is Taurus' game.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
When Gemini is being irrational, he acts very childishly. He'll lie often and refuse to listen to anyone at all because he believes that he knows best. He might think that no one knows when he's not acting like himself, but in reality, everyone can tell that something is off. When he lies, he pretends to know what he's talking about (and that he's fine), even though he's not making any sense.
If you offer him any advice, he will refuse to take it. Not just because the advice is coming from someone who isn't himself, but also because he doesn't want anyone to think he needs help. To deal with an irrational Gemini, start with asking him what he thinks would help. Getting his opinion on the situation will give him a sense of control. Prove to him that his opinions do matter and that he can help himself.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
An irrational Cancer is a moody one. It can be hard to pin just one emotion in him when he feels them all during this time. What makes him the most irrational, though, is that he's unable to let go of the past. Even though the past can sometimes be destructive, Cancer can't help but hold on to it because it feels so familiar to him.
The future and the unknown are two very scary things that Cancer would rather not deal with – at least, not unless it's on his own time. Deal with him by helping him "wean" off the past and introduce healthier choices. Show him that making adult decisions can lead to a future that he's in control of, not one that makes him feel like he's spiraling into an irrational state that he won't be able to handle.
LEO (July 23 - August 22)
When Leo is acting irrational, it's hard not to want to roll your eyes at him. He can be vain at times – trying to make things all about him – but he is especially melodramatic. Even if you try to stay out of his business and let him handle whatever it is that's making him irrational, he'll still pull you right back in with his huffing and puffing and whining.
If you want to help Leo stop being irrational, or you just want to know how to deal with him, it's best if you just don't do anything at all. When he's acting this way, he's impossible to handle. He needs a reality check and the best way for him to get that reality check is by letting him complain. When he realizes that's not helping at all, he'll shape up and act like an adult.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
An irrational Virgo tends to get caught up in the emotions that come with feeling irrational. Whether he tries his hardest to stay in control or just lets it happen to him, when Virgo is acting irrational, he can get picky and overwhelmed. Rather than try to use his skills at bringing order and a sense of calm to whatever is making him irrational, he tells himself that no matter what he does, it won't help.
Being picky like this is only going to hurt him more – as is getting overwhelmed by something he can definitely handle– so he'll need some help. Dealing with an irrational Virgo is going to be hard at first, but once he realizes there is a solution out there for him, he'll start acting like himself again. Help him deal by designing a plan of action for him to follow with lots of detail so that he can find a sense of order and control again.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
When Libra is acting irrational, he gets very indecisive and distracted. Sure, he wants to not be acting irrationally at all, but that means nothing when he can barely make a decision about what he should do next. His mind will start racing and it'll be hard for him to stick to one thought, which is really unhelpful when he's already overwhelmed with the whole situation.
Dealing with an irrational Libra is all about putting it into words he can better understand. Rather than let his mind make him think that there's no way out of this situation, show him that solving his own problems just takes one step at a time. He's very used to using emotion to solve his problems, which only means he's always emotionally invested in them, so this time try hitting him with some logical options.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
Scorpio is one of the hardest zodiac signs to deal with when he's acting irrationally. So much so that you'd better be prepared for him to shove you away at first if your idea of dealing with him is helping him. More often than not, an irrational Scorpio is hostile and manipulative. At first, he might play off his irrational behavior by saying that everything is fine, so you'll help him out, then he'll turn vicious and mean.
The best way to deal with an irrational Scorpio is to not interact with him or feed his need for control. He'll want to prove to you that he can still act like himself, even when he's not in his right mind, so he'll manipulate you into thinking that he knows what he's doing. If he gets really annoying, be honest with him. He won't admit it, but he'll appreciate you calling him out on his crap so that all of this childishness can stop.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
A rational Sagittarius can sometimes act like an irrational one if you don't know him very well. He's not interested in committing to one idea or place, so he often bounces around looking for the next big thing. When he's acting irrational, the same thought process applies. He will more than likely act very unpredictably, making it hard to truly help him act like himself again.
Sagittarius can also be very obnoxious about being irrational. It might feel like he's just acting crazy and flaky because that's what rational Sagittarius would do but in fact, he just doesn't know where to start to solve his problems. Deal with an irrational Sagittarius by giving him some suggestions to get started. He's very smart, but sometimes he just needs someone to point him in the right direction.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
When Capricorn is acting irrational, he climbs up on his high horse and refuses to get down for anyone. He'll act very selfish – letting everyone know that his problems are all about him and anyone who tries to butt in will pay the price – because he can. You can also expect him to be very judgmental of the way you handle your own problems, even if him acting irrationally is proof that he can't handle his own.
The best way to deal with an irrational Capricorn is to just let him do whatever he wants. He might try to get some kind of attention or just shut everyone out, but either way, he's clearly not in his right mind to be making any rational decisions. Eventually, he'll get off of his high horse and start acting like an adult... and if he doesn't, well, then there's no need to worry because it's his problem anyway, isn't it?
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
Dealing with an irrational Aquarius can give anyone a headache, especially since this zodiac sign is very unpredictable when he's in situations that he doesn't have total control over. Sure, Aquarius likes to go where the wind takes him, but only if he has some kind of destination in mind. When he's acting irrational, he gets impatient and stubborn.
Impatient because he wants his problems solved and stubborn because he doesn't want to work too hard to solve them. Don't get him wrong, he's not lazy, he just has no idea where to start. He'll want someone else to take the reins and solve his problems for him, but don't cave. Offer some logic he can work with, but don't baby him. Let him know that this is his own problem and he's smart enough to handle it alone.
PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
An irrational Pisces is one that is very impractical and whiny. He tends to get so caught up in the emotional side of irrationality and once he gets his teeth into how overwhelming being in a confusing situation like this can be, it's hard for him to see that there is always a solution to his problems.
Rather than telling Pisces to get over it or that his emotions are what is making it harder for him to be rational about things, deal with him by showing him that he has the power to handle whatever life throws at him. Help him see that emotions can be positive (and that they can be helpful when handling problems), rather than a burden. He is a much stronger person when he embraces who he is rather than be someone he's not.
Emily Ratay is a full-time writer living in Pittsburgh. She's passionate about the environment and feminism, and knows that anything is possible in the right pair of shoes. She plans on writing a non-fiction book in the future.
