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Ask Carol! Are Only Type 2′s Sensitive?

16 Comments

Question:

Hi Carol,

Recently I’ve experienced some confusion about sensitivity and the other types (not just Type 2). I am a Type 3 and I have always considered myself very aware of people’s feelings and energies, and you seem like you are very aware as well. It also bothers me when people Type themselves as 2′s only because they are ‘sensitive’.   Would you talk more about this?

Thanks,
Lily

My Answer:

Dear Lily,

This is a great question.  Thank you for asking it.

I would like to explain what I feel is the difference between being sensitive and being intuitive and empathic.  I would describe someone as sensitive if they are not only aware of people’s energy and feelings, but can also be easily distressed by them.

I would describe an intuitive, empathic person as someone who reads energy easily and also tunes in to others’ thoughts and patterns, but is not necessarily distressed by this awareness.  I would be an example of this quality.  I can be very tuned in to the energy and patterns of others without adding stress to my body and feelings.  I have a strong countenance and physical disposition. I am intuitive and empathic, but not sensitive in the way I describe a Type 2.

It is my experience that sensitive Type 2′s, especially Type 2 women, have a much stronger tendency to be distressed by the negative energy of others. They can experience mental, emotional, and physical distress as a result, if they are not careful to establish both energetic and physical boundaries for themselves.

Anyone can be intuitive and empathic, no matter their Energy Type. We can all learn to tune in to the energy and patterns in people around us. When we do, we can better honor and support others in living true to their natures.

Thanks again for your question,
Carol

For more support in learning and honoring your natural gifts and tendencies, please visit my Energy Profiling website.

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Carol Tuttle

Carol Tuttle is a teacher, speaker, healer, and best-selling author of five books. She has dedicated her life to helping people worldwide create the lives and relationships they desire. She blogs to support you in creating your ideal life.

Tell Us What You Think

  • Debbie

    I can really relate to this. I am a Type 2 and feel the pain of others in my body. I really loved the answer but my question is Carol as Type 2s how do we establish both energetic and physical boundaries for ourselves?

    • Catherine

      I had the same question; this has been happening to me lately. –Catherine (4/2)

  • Beth Holmes

    Hi,
    I am a Type 4, but relate to quite a lot of Type 2 as well — particularly being sensitive to and getting upset by others negative energy. I can feel it in my body if someone around me is upset about something or angry etc… Is it possible to be mostly Type 4, and have such strong Type 2 traits as well?

    ~Beth

  • Niloofar

    Thanks for this Carol and Lily! Wonderful question and wonderful answer! :D

  • Michelle

    Thank you Carol for explaining the differences. I know that taking on others negative energy is often a problem to my well being. I would like to learn more about setting energetic and physical boundries to prevent myself from being affected so much by the negative evergy of others. I have even been distancing myself from my mother because she is so negative and even hateful. It is hard for me to be around her. I want to be able to spend more time with her in a positive, peaceful, and loving atmosphere. Thank you for all you teach us. Michelle

  • http://TrueTrish.blogspot.com Tricia

    Its funny how often people misuse the word “sensitive”, and I used to do this as well. Turns out “sensitive” for me means “reactive” and that doesn’t always mean I do or say something immediately (often yes, not always though). Sometimes I just react on the inside, or it shows up on my face. People sometimes call this sensitive, when I just have intense feelings that can come out easily when provoked. Even if its just my facial expression. When I’ve tried to play the straight-faced card, it just ends up biting me.

  • http://www.yourmissingsecret.com Brandy

    And if we have a type 2 friend who is surrounded by a lot of negative energy right now, what is the best way to help her? I can pray for her to have positive, loving energy surrounding her, but is there something else I can also do? It’s kind of a pattern with her, but I love her and wish to help any way I can.

  • Judy

    Wow, what a great question and answer! Thank you!
    I am a 4 very sensitive to other people’s feelings. I am so easily distressed by them if they are even somewhat negative. It affects me deeply emotionally and even physically my heart will beat faster abd I can get nausea or even get jittery. This even happens when I know it’s not my fault the person is sad and I can’t do anything about it. The feeling will usually follow me for days… and I’m not even a secondary 2, I completely don’t understand how this can be.
    I would also love something about emotional boundaries.

  • Rachel

    I too would like to learn about boundaries. I’m a type 1, and I easily get swallowed up or fall apart in other people’s negativity, and I get so distressed if I perceive people don’t like or respect me. I’m often weak physically, until I process everyone else’s stuff that I seem to have got infected with/affected by. I can’t get off the phone when talking to seomeone, until they give me “permission”. FasterEFT is helping me a lot to stop absorbing it all and to let it go faster when I do. Also I loved Carol’s reminder that we should be our own authority (types 1 and 4s video). Loud noises really distress me.

  • Kari

    How do you, then, establish those “energetic and physical boundaries” for yourself?

  • Melissa

    I’m a 1/4 who also gets upset very easily by others negativity. I’ve always been called “sensitive” or “too sensitive” by my family and others so at first I thought maybe I was a Type 2. I’m not, but I think 1′s and 2′s can both be quite sensitive. I relate to 2′s a lot. Whenever I see Anne in the video’s I think, “There I am,” or “That must be how I appear to others.” She reminds me so much of me it’s almost like looking in a mirror and yet, it’s very clear that I’m a 1/4, not a 2.

  • Lori

    Thanks so much for this great dialog and… for sharing the distinctions between sensitive, intuitive and empathic.
    I have a question for anyone that can help out -
    I am a Type 1 / Type 3. My hubby is a Type 2. His mother is as well.
    My hubby has a very hard time if I am direct or blunt. To him, it sounds as complaining or critical. Others do not see me as this.
    I am trying to find the balance between 1) being my true self 2) being charitable, kind, and having soft replies 3) learning how to ask for things that I need (a big… problem for men and women. If we don’t ask… it sounds like complaining) 4) not pretzeling myself into a 2 to be more like my husbands mother. (However… I adore her and want to acquire more of her amazing traits!!)
    Where is that balance.
    What do both my hubby and I need to know to honor our best selves.
    Thanks!!

    • Nancy

      Lori,
      My hubby and I just had a conversation this morning about that! He is a type 2 and I am a 3. We talked about the differences in how we each think, which helped a lot. I find that if I say “these are my thoughts and feelings about ______” and assure him that I am not attacking or criticizing, it REALLY helps. I was also trying to be more like him in the way I communicated with him and found it very frustrating and felt like I was not able to be who I am.

      He said it really helped him a lot knowing how we think differently – he looks at all the details in a flowing kind of way before answering vs me, who kind of jumps around, shifting my focus from one aspect of an issue to another, yet still seeing all of it.

      Another thing that helped me when he is slow to answer is he now says something like “I heard you. I need some time to think about it. I will get back to you on that. Do you need a timeline?”

      Just these small things made a HUGE difference to us in how we now communicate! I hope it helps somewhat :)

  • http://cherifisher-artgallery.blogspot.com Cheri

    I’m a 1/2. I have now learned how to avoid takeing on others’ pain or negativity. I say to myself “that’s his/her journey, not mine” and it has helped me greatly. Although, if someone is describing physical pain, or how to care for wounds, etc….I actually pass out cold. I have yet to fix that issue! But in other instances of emotional anguish/distress, I can remind myself that it’s not my journey. Maybe this will help others?

  • Cherie

    Great explanation. I used to allow myself to be very vulnerable to other people’s energy, thinking I had no control. Coming to accept the law of attraction has really freed me. I agree with Cheri’s statement above about each of us being on our own journey. No need to pity or feel sympathy for another out of judgment about their choices. Reminding myself that another person’s opinion of me is really about them, and i can’t control it anyway, helps me let go of resentment. I still have lots of inspiration to help others. I just do it from a positive place of hopefulness instead of guilt and sorrow, etc.

  • Melissa

    I’m going to add to what I said earlier. I’ve noticed 1′s and 2′s or secondary 1′s and 2′s can be very sensitive to the point of it making them ill to be around others who are negative or in pain. So, I believe the true identifier of a type 2 is, in addition to the sensitivity, having that deeply questioning nature. For instance, I’m a 3/1, not a 1/4 as I previously thought, and I’m super sensitive. My skin is sensitive and reacts to everything, I take on the pain of others way too much, I get my feelings hurt much too easily, I intuitively get a lot of information–I’m a sensitive. And yet, if my husband told me I was the best wife in the world I wouldn’t dream of saying, “Well, maybe in your eyes.” Or wonder for even a moment if it was true. I would say, “Thank you! And you’re the best husband in the world!” I don’t think I’m more confident then Anne. I’m sure I’m not. I have plenty of insecurities. It’s just that if someone gave me a compliment I wouldn’t question it. It’s a difference in style, a difference in energy which I’m so grateful to Carol and the whole DYT team for helping me to understand.