Each horoscope sign has its downsides, and Cancer is definitely one of them. On the surface, he seemed like the perfect catch. But behind that soft shell is a complex creature with a dark side you never saw coming.
Before you dive any deeper, you need to go in with your eyes wide open. Otherwise, his claws may come out when you least expect it and shred your heart to pieces. Cancers can be manipulative, possessive, insecure, and passive-aggressive. Or completely the opposite!
Easily Manipulated
Some Cancer men can struggle with feeling insecure and down on themselves. It’s like they’re trying to feel powerful by manipulating people, lying, and being deceitful. They might even want to get back at people who’ve wronged them before. But usually, that behavior is more about their own inner hurt than any real malicious intent.
Not every Cancer man is like that, of course. But some of them tend to have a hard time expressing their emotions in a healthy way. Instead of just being open, they might resort to passive-aggression, guilt trips, and emotional blackmail. They can also be a bit too trusting at times, which makes them easy targets for manipulation by others.
They Build Walls Around Them
Cancer men tend to keep their emotions hidden, even from their closest friends and family. On the outside, they may seem caring and in touch with their feelings. But inside, there’s a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that they don’t express.
They build strong emotional walls to protect themselves. Once those walls are up, it’s difficult for others to get through. When they’re faced with challenges, Cancer signs tend to internalize everything instead of talking it out. They bottle up hurt, frustration, and anxiety, preferring to work through it alone in their own minds.
This tendency to keep everything inside can negatively impact their relationships. Their partners may feel shut out and wonder if the Cancer sign trusts them. It’s not about trust, though – it’s about Cancer’s natural instinct to preserve privacy. Opening up means being vulnerable, which can be scary for them. But when emotions are bottled up, they just intensify. Before long, the Cancer sign becomes moody, irritable, and generally unhappy.
Secret, Dark Desires
Another dark side of Cancer men is that they often have a wild fantasy life behind closed doors. They have big imaginations and love creating elaborate fantasy scenarios in their minds, where they can act out their secret desires.
These fantasies tend to be quite out there and taboo – things that wouldn’t fly in the real world, which is why it stays locked up in their brain. A lot of Cancer men are into power play, like dominating their partner or being dominated themselves. Forbidden relationships get them going too, like student-teacher stuff or affairs. Voyeurism and exhibitionism are common kinks. And some have non-consensual fantasies, though that’s just fantasy – they know better than to ever act on that in reality.
A Cancer man’s private fantasy world can be quite dark and twisted once you peek behind the curtain. But it’s not cool to judge him for his thoughts, as long as he keeps it all locked up in his imagination. If certain fantasies make you uncomfortable though, you’ve got to be upfront about setting boundaries. His fantasies could also hint at some deeper psychological needs he’s not getting met, so some self-reflection or talking to a therapist might help shed some light there.
Struggles With Masculinity
Cancer men can find it tough to share their emotions in a way that feels manly to them. Beneath that rugged exterior, they’re sensitive souls who feel things deeply. They care a ton about their relationships and loved ones. But actually putting those feelings into words, even with their inner circle, isn’t easy.
Part of the issue is that Cancer men don’t always feel comfortable letting their emotional side show. It clashes with outdated ideas about how a “real man” is supposed to act. They might worry that if they open up, they’ll come across as weak or too feminine. So instead of expressing themselves, they tend to bottle it all up to protect their masculine image and ego.
Self-Destructive Behavior
Cancerians are some of the most selfless people around. They’d give you their last sip of water if you were stranded in a desert. Putting others first comes naturally to them, even if it means sacrificing their own well-being.
But here’s the thing – they can be brutally hard on themselves too. Cancerians tend to be super self-critical, which often leads them down a self-destructive path. When those tough emotions hit, some turn to drinking or drugs as an escape.
Sure, alcohol and substances might numb the pain, anxiety, or loneliness for a bit. But long-term, all that just creates more problems. Abusing those vices wrecks their health, relationships, careers – it’s a vicious cycle.
Manipulative Tendencies
Let’s talk about the potential manipulative side of some Cancer men. While many have caring personalities, there’s a darker side we can’t ignore. As a water sign, they’re in tune with emotions and relationships, so some unfortunately use that to push people’s buttons for their benefit. When hurt or threatened, their defenses kick in, and that’s when the manipulation can rear its ugly head.
Some of their manipulative go-tos? Guilt trips galore, playing the victim card, and good ol’ emotional blackmail. They can be masters at making you feel awful for them, all to get what they want. They might also use emotional triggers or dredge up old wounds to elicit specific responses from loved ones. Like bringing up past hurts to make you feel guilty about something in the present.
When they feel threatened, that protective shell slams shut. That’s when they might manipulate info, withhold key details, or twist facts to control the narrative in their favor. They could also resort to silent treatment or threaten to abandon you to manipulate you into doing their bidding.
Extra Vulnerable
Last but not least, Cancer men and women have this trusting nature that makes them see the good in people. They want to believe that most folks are honest and have pure intentions. But sadly, there are plenty of shady characters out there who take advantage of kind, trusting souls.
They can easily fall for financial scams and pyramid schemes because the sales pitch just sounds so darn believable. It appeals to their desire to help others. These fraudsters might claim they represent a charity in need or promote some “once in a lifetime” investment opportunity that seems too good to be true. But because Cancers rarely think with a skeptical mindset, they might miss those red flags waving right in front of their faces.
And don’t even get me started on advertisements! Cancer men are suckers for ads claiming a product can solve their problems or improve their lives. Supplements, weight loss pills, beauty products – they make all these bold promises with zero proof to back it up. But the emotional pull of the ad’s message just resonates so strongly with these guys that they buy into it hook, line, and sinker. More often than not, these products are all smoke and mirrors, leaving them disappointed and out some hard-earned cash.
