Comment by Lorraina on September 6, 2008 2:30 pm

Hi Karen,

How wonderful it is to read a true story, full of hope and promise and commitment on both Dr. Baer and yourself. This book was simply amazing. I felt every moment as though I experienced it myself. I read the book quickly, and felt as though your pain was my own. No other book left me feeling this way. I recommended it to many of my friends. I only wish to have met you and hug you. Dr. Baer sounds remarkably well put together to take care of you. Tell him thank you for bringing this illness to the attention of the world. I have read other books on MPD and not one, has touched me as much as Switching Time. Congratulations to you both!

Wishing you and Richard Baer, a happy life,

Lorraina from Arkansas

Dear Lorraina,

I appreciate all that you have written. I can understand what you meant by feeling the pain I suffered as your own. This is one of the reasons Dr. Baer and I had wanted to share our story in such detail. It was important for both of us describe our journey so that the reader could feel and experience what it was like to suffer from multiple personality disorder. It wasn’t easy making the decision to share so much of myself. I surely didn’t really want for any reader to experience my pain. However, I believe it was necessary, in part, to share just enough so that this illness could be understood.

In my eyes, Dr. Baer is remarkably well put together. I am sure he appreciates all of your compliments, especially that no other book on MPD has touched you as much as Switching Time.

Thank you for your kind words, and for recommending our book to others. Dr. Baer and I really appreciate you encouraging others to read our story.

Karen

Comment by Maureen on September 5, 2008 7:24 pm

DEAR KAREN OVERHILL,
I HAVE SUFFERED FROM DEPRESSION FOR MANY YEARS AND AM NOT A MULTIPLE PERSONALITY BUT IDENTIFY WITH SO MUCH OF YOUR STORY. THE PAIN IS THE SAME. I WAS HESITANT TO READ SWITCHING TIME AT FIRST BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD TRIGGER MORE DEPRESSED THOUGHTS BUT IT DID’NT. YOUR STORY AND DR BAER’S CARE MADE ME FEEL I CAN DO IT TOO. THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME SEE THROUGH YOUR EYES THE POSSIBILTY OF SURVIVAL. HOW DO YOU AND DR BAER TOLERATE EACH OTHER AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF A STRESSFULLY INTENSE RELATIONSHIP?

MAUREEN

Dear Maureen,

You’re right, the pain is the same. Pain is pain. And depression hurts… I am glad that you chose to read Switching Time. I know it is a difficult story to read, but it’s very important to finish reading it because of its positive message. I am touched by your honesty of being hestitant before reading. This means that you are taking care of yourself and thinking through what may or may not be good for you. This is a very important step to take in your own healing process. Always take care of yourself first. I sometimes have trouble doing this for myself. It’s good to know that something within my story brought you awarenesses in your own healing.

I never really thought that Dr. Baer and I just tolerate each other. Tolerate is such a strong word, which feels a bit standoffish. Dr. Baer and I care for each other. However, Dr. Baer’s unconditional care has taught me that I can allow someone to care for me and that I can, in return, allow myself to care back. I’d never experienced before what I’ve experienced with Dr. Baer. He never gave up on me, no matter how many times I stressed him. Dr. Baer and I have gone through quite an amazing journey together. We have a unique close and respectful relationship, bound by trust.

Thank you for sharing. I wish you well.

Karen

Comment by Brice on September 2, 2008 4:19 am
Dear Karen,

I am writing this still in shock? I feel dumfounded. How can you live with knowing what happened to you in your past? I read somewhere that you still hurt sometimes. I can imagine how alone you must feel. Who could possibly understand you and who could possibly trust you knowing where you came from? Do your friends fear you? Could you attack or kill them if you wanted to? What would push you to your limits now? I find it difficult to understand how nice you seem to be in your writing. Is this really you or not?

Brice

Dear Brice,

Wow! You’ve put a lot of thought into asking these questions! I’m shocked by them, but I’ll try to answer them for you. I can understand your concerns about me. It’s hard to believe something so horrific can actually happen to a child, and that child can somehow survive to live a normal life.

You ask how I could live after all that had happened to me. I live very cautiously and try to be the best person I can be. I believe that all people need to be treated kindly and with respect. I try not to dwell on all that has happened to me. Sure, there are many times a memory is triggered, but I deal with it and move on. I admit, I continue to struggle, and I often feel alone. However, I’m fortunate to have learned many ways to help myself, and when I can’t, I am even more fortunate to have Dr. Baer and my friends to help me through.

It’s not in my nature to strike back, even with all my hurt. I think my friends trust me. I’d never intentionally hurt anyone. I’d hurt myself before even thinking of hurting someone else. I admit, during therapy the urge to kill my abusers was there, but not in a realistic way. Dr. Baer always told me ” These thoughts are okay, but acting on them is not.”

And, yes, Brice, I hope I am a nice person, the same person who answers these questions. Thank you for asking questions most would dare not ask.

Karen

Comment by Dee on September 2, 2008 3:34 pm
Karen,

Great story! Thank God you survived. I value you as a woman and as a survivor. It was a very interesting book to read. I couldn’t put it down. I’m positive there is more to tell. Are there plans for a follow up book that you and Dr. Baer can write, together this time?

Thank you,
Dee

Dear Dee,

Thank you for sharing your excitment and your interest in another book. I’m sure that if enough readers are interested, Dr. Baer and I could write a sequel together; we work well together. If all goes well with Switching Time, and enough interest is generated, it could happen.

You are right, there is definitely more to tell. The next book could be filled with my fully becoming an independent woman, my many emotional ups and downs, learning to live life as one woman, with love, patience, betrayal, mistakes and accomplishments. I personally believe that after integration, life has been more fascinating than before.

Thanks for asking,
Karen

Comment by Paula Z on September 2, 2008 1:00 am

Hi Karen,

Loved your book! Dr. Baer did a great job in writing it! This book kept me on my toes, it was full of suspense and left me wanting to see what happened next. I read all your answered responses to the questions most people have. I was impressed by your answers and how well you seem to cover the questions asked of you. Most of my questions have already been answered through your answers but I have one more: How did you really feel driving to the area of your past life with Dr. Baer? Were you afraid or did you feel safe knowing that Dr. Baer was with you?

Thank you for being brave and sharing the reality of what can happen in life and why all people need to be aware of their surroundings.

Paula Z.

Dear Paula,

I appreciate all your compliments! Thank You! I’m glad to hear that many of the questions you and all of our readers have asked are being answered.

To answer your question regarding our drive to my childhood neighborhood—yes, it was frightening for me to do. However, it was something I felt I needed to do in order to put my past to rest. I was really happy that Dr. Baer accompanied me on this journey. I felt safe. With Dr. Baer driving, I was able to sit back, relax a little, and tell him where to go. If I were driving, I would’ve frozen with fear, and not have been able to continue.

All that I remembered was the same, the streets and buildings, yet, everything appeared much smaller, as if I no longer saw these sites through a horrified child’s eyes. As an adult, the buildings I was abused in, my old home, the warehouse, the church, all appeared less threatening. They were just buildings in which terrible things happened to me. But those who have abused me have died and no longer live there. The place has no more ties to me.

Dr. Baer, has been the only one I shared all the details of my past with, and I believe it was just as important for him to see all that I described during the many years of our therapeutic relationship. It was definitely a much needed ending experience for the both of us.

After this trip with Dr. Baer, I’ve never needed to go back. I’ll never forget that old neighborhood and all that happened there, but I hope the need to go back never returns.

Karen

Comment by lyndsie on August 30, 2008 4:49 pm

Hi Karen,

I have been touched by your story and truly respects how you have survived the ordeal. All the best in your future endeavors and i know faith will bring you there.

Lyndsie

Dear Lyndsie,

Thank you for your compliment and for sharing your respect for all that I’ve gone through. That’s really important to me. It’s my hope to continue, with faith, to move forward, and live the life that was meant for me to live.

All my best,

Karen

Comment by Breanna on August 27, 2008 12:17 pm

Dear Karen,

Great Book! This is the best book I ever read in years! It carried me without my losing interest. Now I sit here in awe of all that you’ve accomplished in becoming the woman you are today. I wasn’t an abused child but have a friend who was and never understood her pain. In reading Switching Time I can now understand more than I did not just about multiple personality disorder but all kinds of abuse suffered by the hands of all abusers. Now I can be more empathetic to her and to others who may share their pain with me in the future. Thank you for making this book happen. My questions are:

1. Can you explain how you feel when you switch?
2. Was there a warning or feeling you experience like (not to offend you) animal instinct, like animals can smell danger ahead of time?
3. If you did, now that you are integrated do you still have this same ability to be forewarned?

Thank you,
Breanna
Maine

Dear Breanna,

Thank you for all your compliments and for sharing some of your personal thoughts on your better understanding of child abuse. It’s nice to hear that you have changed how you feel, and believe you can be more empathetic to others.

You asked a very good question. Switching, or losing time, was something of a mystery to me, too. I often wonder exactly how I did this. It really wasn’t under my control. I’ll try to explain the best I can.

Usually, there was a feeling that came over me, an intuition, that forewarned me when something bad was about to happen. As a child, this warning would signal a switch for another alter to take over. I was always vigilant. This is how I survived my entire life. I would experience an overwhelming feeling of dread that would cause me to pause for a few seconds. At this time, I would try to put up a “wall”, a metaphor for protecting myself for something that was about to happen. It started with the same feeling you have if you think someone is following you, you’re frightened, and you cross the street to protect yourself. Then I would just switch. I don’t know why or how I did this, I just did it.

Not everyone can switch into an altered state as I once did. But it started with something similar to animal instinct, I guess.

Karen

Comment by Cynthia on August 25, 2008 6:30 pm

Karen, I sure would like to see you have another website in the future, where people could come together and discuss there abuse through poems, art work, music, and relaxation. I know I tend to feel so alone at times in this struggle with my abusive past. I sense you have such wonderful communication skills and would be great at helping others who are may be feeling scared and alone on their journey to healing.

Take Care, Cynthia

Dear Cynthia,

Thank you for your confidence in me, and for all your compliments. I appreciate each and every one. I do enjoy helping others, but I am not a professional therapist. I can only share my thoughts and opinions from my own personal experience. I like your idea about a Web site that could show art work, poems, and more. For now, I’m busy enjoying answering the questions posted here.

I know how lonely it can be at times dealing with the effects of abuse suffered in one’s past. I felt alone, too. Please know, it takes time to heal, and I believe everyone heals at his or her own pace. Have faith.

I wish you all the best in your journey,

Karen

Comment by Caren on August 25, 2008 6:49 pm
Dear Karen,

Breath taking read! I could not put it down once started. Do you still talk to Richard Baer or has he been removed from your life when the book got done because you are no longer his patient? He should be lucky you shared your story for him to write. What if you said no? Was he a psychiatrist, psychotictherapist or medical doctor?

My name is Karen to only spelled different,

Caren

Dear Caren,

Thank you for the compliment! Dr. Baer is very much a part of my life. We have a close and respectful friendship, a bond, that will never be broken, no matter what. I would never think to remove him from my life. And hope he feels the same about me. Since our therapeutic relationship ended, we have worked together with the book, and shared our journey with many. Good relationships never die.

You might think Dr. Baer was lucky that I shared my story with him, but it wasn’t luck that we accomplished all that we have. Dr. Baer had worked very hard, through many years of unconditionally taking care of me. I exhausted him. I was the lucky one to have him listen to me, time and again. I’m not sure if I could’ve handled caring for someone like me. I was horrible and glad he never gave up on me. I admire him. And it is my hope he’ll always know how grateful I am for all he’s done for me.

If I would’ve said no to the writing of my story… that would have been a shame. My journey was meant to be told. I believe, despite the horror I suffered, it is an inspirational story. Dr. Baer and I, together, have accomplished something unique.

Dr. Richard Baer is a psychiatrist, which is also medical doctor.

Karen

Comment by Lily on August 25, 2008 11:59 am

Hi Karen!

Congratulations on Dr Baer and your book making it to press! Do you have any idea how hard it is to accomplish what the both of you have? It’s unheard of. I bet there’s never been such a book written before, ever. I would like to know if telling your story causes you grief and sorrow and if Dr Baer continues to understand it’s not over until it’s over.

Lily

Dear Lily,

Thank you for your enthusiasm. Yes, Dr. Baer and I are aware how hard it’s been to accomplish all that we have. I believe there is a reason for everything, and that our story was meant to be written and shared. I’m not sure if there is another book written like ours, but I don’t think so. Our therapeutic journey is definitely unique.

I believe Dr. Baer tries to understand what I am still going through. He is always empathetic and supportive. We will always share a special bond, and he know’s it’s not over.

Karen