The Shadow Side In The Signs: Cancer, Leo and Virgo

Every sign is capable of exhibiting self-destructive traits. Generally, they are exaggerated versions of the signs' attributes that result in the opposite of their primary goals. 

In the following analyses I won't look at the "why" just the "how." Note that these are very general descriptions and are not meant to be in-depth analyses of individuals.

CANCER

Goals: to be safe, to be comfortable, to have a secure home

Caution and nurturing are distorted into extreme sensitivity and and helplessness. This sign is incredibly empathetic and takes everything to heart, but when they take everything personally they shut themselves off from everyone and deny themselves what they need: warm, secure connections. Their greatest fear is being vulnerable, but if they haven't learned to be self-sufficient (to be their own parent) their neediness, temper tantrums and moodiness will drive people away. The secure home base they crave will always be just out of reach until they master inner security.

LEO

Goals: to be adored, to be recognized, to be themselves

Boldness and charisma are distorted Into manipulative attention-seeking. Their flair for the dramatic is poured on whenever they're feeling ignored. People lose respect for the drama queen/king and the thing they crave (the audience's love) is lost when the audience turns away. Their displays are cheap and obvious and they lose sight of their true self when they do whatever it takes to get noticed. The appreciation they want must be earned-when they demand it, they get the opposite. But any attention is good attention, right?

VIRGO

Goals: to fix, to perfect, to be of help

The drive for perfection becomes an endless cycle of fixing. When a situation/relationship is poked and prodded in search of flaws, eventually it will break. Obsessing about what they're afraid will go wrong can create that outcome. And sometimes they try so hard to help that they push away those closest to them-their nagging, hovering and endless little suggestions can be too much for some people to handle. The phrase "paralysis of analysis" also describes self-destructive Virgo: they spin their wheels and make zero progress when they waste their energy fixating on minor issues or refuse to start something until they're perfectly prepared (no one is ever perfectly prepared).