Comment by Karen, psych major on 20 Mar 2010 at 8:07 pm

I just finished reading “Switching time” and it was fabulous.

I am amazed by the way you battled all of your demons and opened up our eyes through your harrowing story. You are a true warrior. I am so proud of you.

Dear Karen the psych major,

Thank you for your compliments, for believing me to be a true warrior, and for understanding and being proud of me. I am touched by your kind and thoughtful words. Battling the demons of my past is a lifetime process. I admit, it’s been difficult to overcome some of what I have endured, but each day that I wake I am amazed I’m here. I believe sharing my survival has given me purpose.

Karen

Comment by Sullivan MD on 19 Mar 2010 at 10:56 am

Hello Karen,

Many thank you’s to you and Richard Baer for your contribution to psychiatry. I have gained insight through your book and blog. If anything, I am taking with me more knowledge on dissociation, sexual and ritual abuse than learned in twelve years of med school.

Hope you sell a million books!

Dr. Sullivan,
 Alabama

Dear Dr. Sullivan,

Thank you for acknowledging our work as a contribution to the medical world. Dr. Baer and I truly appreciate being respected for sharing our experiences. I’m glad to hear Switching Time has given you insight into multiplicity.  For many years there was a lack of information on dissociation. It was hard for Dr. Baer to find the information he needed to help me along. It was hard work treating me, but I believe we worked great together. It was teamwork at it’s best. 

Thank you for sharing and for your compliments. We hope to sell a million books, too!

Karen

Comment by Chesca on 19 Mar 2010 at 11:35 am

Hey Karen,

Spring Break! Yeah! I am writing to you to let you know that I had planned to read your book this week, a few chapters a day for an assignment due April 1st on DID. Well, well, well, Ms. Karen I read the book in one day. It was so fascinating to learn about your mind. I am writing my paper today and wanted to tell you I never felt so excited about an illness until today. Case studies like yours has me wanting to know more. Found your blog and your facebook. Happy Spring!

Chesca

Dear Chesca,

Hope you are enjoying your spring break! Isn’t it nice to be able to finish reading quicker than expected? Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm about reading my story. I’m glad your interest helped you become fascinated with the wonders of the mind. I agree the mind is fascinating. I learn something new about it each day. I hope your writing assignment goes well. I’m sure it will just by hearing the excitement in your comments.

You can befriend me on Facebook. I am here to help. Happy Spring to you, too!

Wishing you all my best.

Karen

Comment by Lindsey on 19 Mar 2010 at 8:15 am

Dear Karen,

Peek-a-boo? Where oh where are you? You’re not posting? What’s up? Are you ill? Stopped the blog? C’mon don’t quit now I just sold four of your books to my classmates. WE NEED YOU, YOU ARE OUR GROUP PROJECT THIS SEMESTER!!!!!!!!!

Lindsey

Dear Lindsey,

I’m here.  My blog continues on.  I’ll never quit.  My answers may sometimes be slow in coming, but I will continue on as long as questions keep arriving. I don’t mind answering questions. It is my purpose. Thank you for caring.

I appreciate your selling four books!  Each book sold helps bring knowledge of multiplicity.  Thank you!

I like the idea of being your group project. I would like to hear how that goes. Please know that you can ask me any questions here.

Wishing you good luck with your project!

Karen

Comment by Pat on 18 Mar 2010 at 11:58 pm

Hi Karen,

it’s that time again! Are you going to be giving your input on the USoT show again. I found you an asset to the show. Hope they are paying you for your time. My interest peaked after reading about you. You could advise them.

Lots of love to you…beautiful spirit.

Pat

Dear Pat,

Thank you for believing my comments on USoT to be an asset. Of course, I am not being paid to comment on the United States of Tara message board, just as I am not being paid to answer questions here on my blog. I do so to help bring awareness and knowledge to the illness I once suffered from, multiplicity. I believe we all can help each other by sharing. Though it would be nice to be paid, my first desire is to encourage hope through sharing my own personal journey to healing.

It’s nice to hear that your interest in multiplicity peaked after reading about me. I’ll take that as a compliment. If asked, I would love to help with the show or with therapists and doctors who wish to understand how I managed to survive a dissociative disorder. I believe each multiple is unique and while their experiences differ, all multiples use alters as a coping mechanism to survive while they suffer from trauma. Multiplicity follows horrific abuse.

Thank you for your compliments, and for sending love.

Karen

Comment by Judi on 18 Mar 2010 at 8:41 pm

Karen,

I just read your remarks on CBS website regarding “The United States of Tara”. I am a ‘galaxy’ and was diagnosed by Dr. Richard Kluft.

Thank you for standing up for those who suffer from this. By the photos I see here, I imagine there was ritual abuse too.

Good luck with your book.

Warmly,

Judi

Dear Judi,

You’re welcome! Thank you for sharing and for your well wishes for Switching Time! Yes, I suffered some ritual abuse, not by an organized group, but by my father, grandfather, and a few of their sadistic friends. I believe they may have heard about it and decided to try it themselves. My abusers were manipulative sexual predators.

I’ve not heard of “galaxy”? Is this a new diagnosis? I never claimed to be an expert and sharing my thoughts about USOT are from my own personal experiences. United States of Tara has been an interesting show to watch, and I found myself wanting to help those watching understand a bit more. It is my hope to bring awareness about the illness of multiplicity.

Please know that you can ask me questions here on my blog or find me and Dr. Baer on Facebook. I have included more pictures on Facebook.

Thank you for your kind thoughts.

Karen

Comment by Sally on 17 Mar 2010 at 2:51 pm

Dear Ms. Karen,

I just recently had to read your book for school and I couldn’t put it down. The entire story amazed me like no other, and I found the entire process fascinating. You have really inspired me to go into the medical field so one day I’ll be able to help other people realize their true inner self.

I admire your courage and your affection for life despite of all the evil and cruelty that has been displaced on you and I hope that you and your kids are doing well and you never have to face your awful husband again.

Your story has taught me that there is nothing more important then being around the ones that you love and that love you. I am an only child of two adoring parents who never treated me bad.

Sally

Dear Sally,

How wonderful to hear you are inspired to help people realize their true inner selves! There is a need for compassionate caring people to help those who suffer. I was fortunate to have found the right therapist for me. I’m not sure what would’ve happened to me if I fell into the wrong hands. I believe my finding Dr. Baer was meant to be. I was lucky. It’s my wish that all those who suffer find the therapist best able to help them.

My children are doing well. My son recently married and my daughter attends college.  My ex-husband’s abusive ways are no longer an issue in my life. He is living his life far from me. I am free from abuse and have just begun to live.

I love hearing your parents treated you well!  That makes my heart sing!

Thank you for your compliments and for caring.

Karen

Comment by Cathy on 16 Mar 2010 at 10:25 am

Dear Karen,

What a find this blog is. I don’t know what to ask you. I have a thousand questions but will read through your blog first. Your book was an adventure I’d never wish to take. I am glad your journey ended well. Good Luck today and in your future years. Thank you for spending your days caring for others like me who are afraid to speak up and search for truth. I admire you.

Cathy

Dear Cathy,

Thank you for sharing! There are many questions and answers to read through here, but if you find yourself wondering about something, please ask. If I’ve answered a question similar to yours, it doesn’t really matter. Since your questions are important to you, they’re important to me.

Thank you for caring and for your kind thoughts. I truly appreciate hearing them.

Karen

Comment by Bob on 15 Mar 2010 at 3:16 pm

Hi Karen!

I am married to a brilliant woman who suffers as you did. My concerns are a bit difficult to form into words but when you were married did your husband address your alters by name? Or call on them when he needed them? We’ve been married three years and recently one alters resurfaces and claims I never call her out and care. I assumed it wasn’t appropriate to call on another alter when married to my wife. In my own confusion I am unclear what to do? My wife stopped therapy, which I was against her doing, and now things are popping up out of the ordinary. I thought maybe I should go to therapy myself but don’t wish to dealt with a therapist asking questions like “If you knew there could be possible marital problems marrying your multiple wife then why did you marry her?” Switching Time was well worth reading. I have gained self-esteem and strength in learning about the illness. Thank you Karen.

Bob 
E.P.

Dear Bob,

Thanks for sharing. I’m not sure if I ever answered a question like yours before, but will do my best. My husband didn’t address my alters by name because my alters did not share that information with him. My alters named themselves and rarely used their names for fear of drawing attention to us. Multiplicity is a coping mechanism. It was important that I be protected from harm, and drawing attention to any differences, such as names, would just aggravate the situation. For instance, if my husband and I were out at a restaurant and he assumed he was talking to me but another alter was present, it may have caused a scene. My alters never sought attention; they chose to live my life for me when I was unable to.

I’m glad Switching Time was helpful to your understanding, but please know that the book doesn’t replace therapy. A good therapist will not judge you. Of course, during the course of therapy difficult questions may be asked, but only to help you move forward to a better understanding of your own thoughts and feelings. Sometimes bringing out a pain provides resolution previously unavailable to you. If your wife has stopped therapy and life for the two of you is changing for the worse, it may be time to seek help not only for your wife, but for yourself, too.

Wishing you all my best.

Karen

Comment by Dennis on 15 Mar 2010 at 1:13 pm

Dear Karen,

Thank you for providing this blog. I am impressed by your capability to conquer some ignorant questions. I hope you don’t feel bad about yourself, you are my hero. After reading your story I changed for the better. I didn’t kill myself. I swear I will follow your lead of defense. I assumed my life was the worst. No, yours was and you chose to stick around. I suppose I will to. Thank you, Mam!

Dennis

Dear Dennis,

You’re welcome. I’m so glad to hear you didn’t end your life. I appreciate you saying that my story gave you reason to move forward, but I believe it is your own faith and strength that led to your survival. Please follow and trust your own instincts; you are stronger than you think.

I never thought of any questions posted here as ignorant. I suppose those who write me just need to be heard, and sometimes it’s hard to put those thoughts into words.  I never judge anyone and answer each question to the best of my ability.

Thank you for thinking of me as a hero!  But I am just one woman with a story to share in hope of bringing comfort to those who hurt. If I can accomplish that, then my life is worth living.

Wishing you all my best. Thanks for sticking around.

Karen