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Archive for the 'Karen’s Answers' Category
Richard Baer on Jun 12th 2009
Comment by Regarding Frances on 07 Jun 2009 at 12:20 pm
Regarding Frances’s wish for new interview on GMA.
I contacted the Oprah Show through an email and requested you and Richard Baer to guest. Three months I was informed Richard Baer declined by never returning their call. Is it true? Why would he decline Oprah? Did he tell you? Is it because Richard Baer is jealous of the attention you receive. Is it because he doesn’t want to be on the show? If he doesn’t why can’t you go alone? Is there a reason to appear together? Or maybe if he doesn’t want you to be on the show? Maybe he wants to be alone? I think you guys should find out why that happened. I swear to God that’s what the supervisor told me. Richard Baer never returned the call.
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Dear Regarding Frances’ Comment,
Thank you for contacting the Oprah Show! Dr. Baer and I appreciate that you took the time to write on our behalf, however, there must be a mistake in what the supervisor of the show told you. You didn’t mention details, but I assure you neither Dr. Baer nor I would ever decline an invitation to the Oprah Show or not return their calls. I received a call from one of the staff, who didn’t follow up, but Dr. Baer has not. It is our hope they haven’t forgotten us and will call again some day.
What better way to share the truth about multiplicity than to do so on Oprah. If that ever comes to be, it is my hope Dr. Baer and I go together. We both took the journey to heal me. I couldn’t have healed on my own. Dr. Baer couldn’t have written the book without treating me.
What’s most important to me is for our story to be shared in hope to bring awareness to the illness I survived. There are many multiples who would appreciate hearing the truth. Dr. Baer can share the medical aspects of the therapy and illness. I can’t understand it from his point of view. I on the other hand can share the spiritual journey and the daily life of a multiple. One doctor, one patient. It takes two.
Thank you for writing in your thoughts and concerns. Dr. Baer and I appreciate you sharing this information.
Karen
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Richard Baer on Jun 8th 2009
Comment by Seattle Freelance Writer on 06 Jun 2009 at 8:06 pm
Dum, Dum! That’s what I thought while reading the first chapter of your book. Unbelievable, Unbelievable! That’s what I thought while reading the next three chapters. Concerned, concerned! That’s what I thought while reading the few chapters after that. Inspired, inspired! That’s what came to my heart during the integrations. Enlightened and amazed! That’s what the ending was like for me. Overall reaction! I could feel the love, trust and successful union between doctor and patient. Will I recommend Switching Time? For sure! Congrats!
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Dear Seattle Freelance Writer,
Thank you for such a wonderful review! How honest, to the point, and enlightening are your written words. Dr. Baer and I appreciate hearing your thoughts and opinions.
Thank you for recommending Switching Time to future readers.
Have a great day!
Karen
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Richard Baer on Jun 8th 2009
Comment by Marcus on 06 Jun 2009 at 7:56 pm
Karen,
Did you smoke? If you did was it you or which alter. In the show USOT while I was watching reruns Tara smoked alot. I never read in your story you smoked and would like your opinion about being a multiple and doing drugs, smoking and illegal acts that cause your core trouble? Richard Baer did a brilliant job capturing your life with your help. If you are given another opportunity to write a continuation would you both work together again.
Marcus
Tampa, FL
Dear Marcus,
No. I never smoked. I may have taken a puff once, but no, never wound up smoking. As a multiple there was no time for such habits as smoking, drinking alcohol, or illegal behavior. I was too busy trying to survive each day. For me, to smoke, drink, act irresponsibly, or get into trouble was an annoyance that I could not afford. However, there was one habit that many alters would indulge in, and that was eating. I believe four alters ate simultaneously.
As a multiple, my life was run by a complex inner system that didn’t include “me.” My system of alter’s was created to protect me, keep me out of trouble and keep me safe. Anything else would draw unsafe attention to me. I preferred to be invisible. That was the safe way to be.
I will try to explain: If an adult alter would consume alcohol and a younger alter came out, the younger alter’s level of intoxication could be catastrophic. I’m not sure how to explain it, but once, while in the hospital, an adult alter was medicated with the correct dosage of medication, and when that alter went back in, a switch occurred and a young alter came out and passed out from from being over medicated. Multiplicity is an incomprehensible illness that we have so much more to learn about. The mind is powerful.
As far as I am concerned, in the series The United States of Tara, the writers added Tara’s smoking habit as a distraction for the audience. I can’t answer for other multiples. In my opinion, based from my own personal experience, it was impossible to maintain and keep track of such habit forming addictions.
Thank you for your compliments, especially for Dr. Baer, I will pass it on to him. I’m sure he will appreciate hearing from you. And, yes, it is my hope that if we were ever asked to write a sequel, that we would work together again. Teamwork at it’s best!
Karen
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Richard Baer on Jun 8th 2009
Comment by Gretchen H on 06 Jun 2009 at 10:38 am
Karen,
Unbelievable progress on your answers. I am amazed how consistent your writing. It took me three days to read all your answers. I bet Richard Baer is proud of you. I am a fan of the both of you and would love to hear more. I recently graduated with a degree in Psych. Switching Time was introduced to our studies a mere one week before the end. It was a refreshing tease into the reality of the what the mind could accomplish and a great way to end our studies.
Thank you to you and Richard Baer for contributing to science.
Gretchen H.
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Dear Gretchen,
Thank you for your compliments. I do my best when answering these questions. There’s really only one answer I can give, and it’s the one that comes from my personal experience. Dr. Baer also double checks my answers for accuracy. That has been a great help and a blessing for me and allows me to continue to answer my best.
I’m sure Dr. Baer is proud of me, however he knows the difficulties I have had. I make many mistakes. Relationships are important to me, and no one seems to have more patience or understand me the way he does. I’ve been blessed.
I’m glad Switching Time was introduced before your graduated. Dr. Baer and I hoped it would serve as a real life glimpse into the work between therapist and patient.
Wishing you all the best in your future. Thank you for sharing and on earning your degree!
Karen
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Richard Baer on Jun 8th 2009
Comment by Barb J. (MA) on 06 Jun 2009 at 8:20 am
Good morning Karen
I read somewhere that you turn 50 this month. It was listed in a newspaper article the other day. Upcoming June BD’s Karen Overhill 50. Date Unlisted Happy Birthday!
How do you feel becoming 50, integrated and alive? Did you ever imagine living this long? Great news! My reading group picked your story for August Book Club. I read ST, love RB and you. Can’t wait to discuss the book with the group. Will let you know mid August. BTW Thank you to you and RB for providing a site for people to go to. I was thrilled to learn more of the both of you.
Great work.
Dear Barb J,
Thank you for the birthday wishes! Yes, the article was correct, I turned fifty this month. I don’t feel any different being fifty. As a matter of fact, I feel young. I’ve missed so many years that I feel I have yet to begin to live my life to it’s fullest. Age is irrelevant to me. I connect with the mind and spirit and can’t really comprehend the passage of time.
No, I never imagined living this long. I was told repeatedly as a child I’d die before my teen years. I’m really surprised to have lived to the age of fifty. I think of it as an accomplishment. I feel I’ve earned every year that I stayed alive.
I am glad to hear that your book club picked up Switching Time for your book club selection. If you use the trade paper back version of the book, there are readers group questions at the end. It will be great to hear how the discussion went and how many questions came up.
Thank you for your compliments. It’s nice to hear that our web site provided the information you needed to learn more about multiplicity, Dr. Baer, and myself.
Have a great day!
Karen
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Richard Baer on Jun 8th 2009
Comment by TD on 03 Jun 2009 at 5:43 pm
I just finished Switching Time last night and discussed it with my own therapist today. My childhood cannot even compare to your experience, but your story hit a raw nerve with me, and I need to admit that I was emotionally and mentally abused by my mother. You can think over something intellectually, but the method used for you made me see that we need to feel these past emotions and manage them to be productive adults. The book has made me realize I need to do my own kind of integrating, fusing the scared little girl with the confident adult self I am today, or I will never move on. I admire what you went through, and wanted to let you know you inspire all kinds of people with past pains, even if we aren’t with MPD. I’ve decided to start addressing these issues in my sessions, instead of keeping them in a walled off room (like your alters). I know that if I had been pushed farther and more consistently, this would have been a coping mechanism for me as well. I already lost part of the special person I was before my incident, but hearing what you went through gives me strength to carry out this important task. You are a true inspiration, bravo, and thank you for sharing your intense and personal story with the world!
Dear TD,
Thank you for sharing your experiences and journey. I admire your spirit and strength to overcome your issues by addressing them in an appropriate way, in the safety of therapy. It’ll be hard work, but being able to recognize and confront the feelings for what happened to you is an important first step in healing.
I assume that you are an adult and able to set your goals and fuse the scared little girl with the confident adult self that you are. I’m glad to hear that. However, in my case, my abuse started early in childhood before the age of three. I really had no ability to change my circumstances and feel confident. I was controlled, paralyzed with fear, and too young to defend myself. Therefore, I coped through dissociation. My alters were created from a very young age and stayed with me, in order to protect me, throughout childhood until I was able to deal with my pain as an adult in a safe therapeutic setting.
I always wondered why my mind walled off my thoughts in order to protect me. As an adult, I know. As a child, I was unable to comprehend what happened to me.
Thank you for all your compliments. I appreciate each and every one, especially in knowing that our book was an inspiration and help to you.
Have a great day!
Karen
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Richard Baer on Jun 5th 2009
Comment by Carole on 31 May 2009 at 9:14 pm
Hi Karen,
Thank you for inspiring me. I have fought a hard battle after being sexually abused. I am not a patient of any therapist but at times thought of getting help for myself. I never created alters like you but I know I did dissociated the abuse I received. Since I dissociate some of the abuse, what happens to the memory erased? I read your answer about not feeling good enough. I feel not good enough. I want to know what you do when you feel so low that you want to die. What keeps you alive?
I like you very much. Good Luck forever. have a nice life.
Carole
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Dear Carole,
I’m sorry to hear that you were sexually abused. It is a hard battle to overcome. I continue to struggle at times, too! Dissociation comes in many forms, in my case I became a multiple, but not all abused children develop alternate personalities.
I understand not feeling good enough because of early sexual abuse. Certain things will trigger my feeling that way. It’s hard to say how I will react at any given time. When I feel frustrated, betrayed, or taken advantage of, I will also feel not good enough and not respected. Sometimes people take me for granted, ignore me, and dismiss what’s important to me.
I have always thought I was staying alive hoping to feel loved, and to feel loved was the most important feeling I needed in order to live.
Thank you for your compliments,
Karen
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Richard Baer on Jun 5th 2009
Comment by Marty O on 31 May 2009 at 7:23 pm
I don’t believe for a minute that Richard Baer is the hero you make him out to be. No way! You healed yourself. You allowed him to take a ride into the fascinating world of a multiple. My question is what did he actually do to earn that right? I don’t like the fact that he has taken all credit and receives the book and web site rites. Shame on him for taking from you. You need legal counsel. ASAP.
Marty O
Dear Marty O,
Thank you for sharing your opinion.
Karen
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Richard Baer on Jun 5th 2009
Comment by Frances 0n 30 May 2009 at 2:38 pm
DO YOU WANT TO DO A FOLLOWUP INTERVIEW TO HELP US UNDERSTAND IF YOU SURVIVED AFTER YOU WERE REAVEALED TO THE WORLD. LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR AFTER THE INITIAL EXCITEMENT WORE OFF. IS YOUR DOCTOR THERE FOR YOU AS YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS. IS YOUR LIFE BETTER, WORSE OR THE SAME AS BEFORE THE BOOK CAME OUT. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND OTHER PATIENTS TO SHARE THEIR STORIES, WHAT ABOUT THE PULL ON YOUR EMOTIONAL MIND, ARE YOU REALLY OKAY. I WOULD LIKETO SEE YOU AND BAER BACK ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA FOR A FOLLOW UP. PLEASE DO IT.
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Dear Frances,
I would love to do a follow up interview on my own. There is much more of me than what was written within the pages of Switching Time. As a matter of fact, I feel there’s a whole book brewing inside my head about my becoming one woman needing to deal with the hurts that come from reality, a reality I wasn’t fully prepared for after the therapy ended. I’ve come far and have made many mistakes. I continue to have a bad day now and then, but my bad days come from a different place than from the fragmented life I once led.
My reason for sharing my story is the same. I wish to help others with their own personal journey to wellness. I’m proud of the help I’ve given and proud of myself for being able to share such horror in an appropriate way. I would like to continue helping others in the best way I can. Maybe, I could even write my own sequel. It is my hope to continue to heal, maintain myself, my dignity, and my caring spirit.
Thank you for your question,
Karen
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Richard Baer on Jun 1st 2009
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Comment by B on 30 May 2009 at 4:39 pm
Karen,
I was wondering if there was a more…. erm…. private way of contacting you? I’d love to talk to you about some rather personal things, and would prefer not to do so on such a public level.
I really admire you and appreciate your courage. You are quite an incredible woman.
With utmost respect,
B.
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Dear B,
You can contact me or write me a personal note on Facebook, under Karen Overhill. I will do my best to answer you as soon as possible.
Thank you for your compliment. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Karen
Filed in Karen's Answers | No responses yet
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Bridget on Questions for Karen: “Hi Karen, I just got done reading your book. I was told that there was possibly a sequel that had…” Sep 20, 18:26