As an example from my experience referred to above:
At the time my Secondary/Major-progressed Sun was semisquare natal Pluto, arguably the "hardest" and post powerful forecasting aspect with Pluto in my life, I relocated 1000 miles from where I grew up, in my 30s.
Just to paraphrase one astrological source, which I will continue to reference in this post, Sakoian & Acker say this (Sun SSQ Pluto) would indicate disruption by forces beyond the individual's control, power struggles, especially involving inheritance, the partner's money, issues of life and death, harsh and unsympathetic behavior (fortunately there was no disputed financial dimension to this situation; in fact I got a small amount of assistance from my family).
In addition, Maj-prog Mars was semisquare Neptune (S&A: Secret intrigues, uncontrollable subconscious desires, self-destructive tendencies) and square the MNN and MSN (anti-social attitudes, out of step with cultural norms, poor timing in business affairs). Progressed Venus was just separating from natal Saturn; that ought to tell you something right there (loneliness and emotional depression, critical junctures regarding romantic relationships). Maj-prog Saturn was conjunct natal Mercury (fear, mental depression, responsibility). Maj-prog Moon was square Maj-prog Uranus in the 8th (emotional instability, unpredictable changes, family instability, unexpected deaths, erratic behavior).
Pluto was transiting my 12th house (the house of "sorrow, trouble and self-undoing"). It was semisquare natal Mercury (suspicion, mistrust, mental coercion) and Maj-prog Saturn (the Greater Malefic, repression, inhibition, delay and denial). Neptune was transiting opposition to natal Uranus (subconsciously motivated erratic behavior, unpleasant psychic experiences, confusion about goals and objectives, unexpected fraud).
Sounds like the native would be in a World of Hurt, right?
I had a romantic separation, had some challenges adjusting to my new environment and finding a job, and of course it involved separation from the past. But frankly, it was an adventure. Within a year things were pretty much back to (boring) normal, with no long term ill effects.
No one died, no drugs or evil psychic experiences, no significant depression or erratic or self-destructive behavior.
A lot of forecasts sound much worse when read in an astrology cookbook (or what somebody is going to tell you online) than they end up being in actual experience.
So like I said, FEAR NOT!