Comment by Barb on September 15, 2008 3:51 pm
Hi Karen,

This is so great! You answering question not only about the book but what’s not in the book. I am curious like everyone else and have a strange question for you. What zodiac sign are you?

I am not one those strange people who only believe in the stars. I am only curious because you seem to draw and know how to reach everyone through your answers. I think you are multi-talented, so maybe you are a earth or water sign? If it’s possible can you find out what sign is Richard Baer?

Do you know that you are gifted more than the average bear?

Lot’s of luck to you and Richard, great book!

Barb

Dear Barb,

Thank you for your curiosity in knowing more about me and Dr. Baer. I do appreciate you feeling that I can reach people through my answers. This is important to me. However, this comes from my personal journey and the experiences I have had. I’m not sure about whether I’m a water or earth sign, but I’m a Gemini and Dr. Baer said he’s an Aquarius. What I do know for sure is we work well together.

Have a nice day, and thank you for sharing your enthusiasm regarding my answering all of the questions asked here.

Karen

Comment by Michael on September 12, 2008 6:40 pm
Hey Karen,

I just started reading your story and am almost near the end and couldn’t wait to share my first thoughts. The brain you have looks the same as anyone’s brain right? How did your brain work? I assume, like Einstein’s. It has me thinking that you had to use more parts of your brain to develop the alternate personalities and to keep them separate. If you used more of your brain to accomplish this, then what happened to your brain when you integrated? Did you lose much function and get depressed? Did parts of your brain die? When you die will you donate your brain to science? I think your brain must look different. Can you ask your doctor to answer this question if you can’t? I want to know how it is possible for a brain to work like yours and if you can teach people to use more parts of their brain like you do?

The way you used your brain is so fascinating. Please write more about it.

Michael

Dear Michael,

I appreciate your questions and feel there are reasons for the way my mind had created alternate personalities in order for me to survive the horrific abuse I had suffered as a child. My brain looks exactly the same as everyone’s brain, I’m sure, but just as each of us is unique and individual, no two brains work the same. I did not lose any brain function after integration. Dr. Baer described the process of integrating to me as if there were partitions between the separate personalities, and with integration, the partitions came down, one by one, and what was separate in the brain could then be shared. So nothing was really lost.

Donating my brain to science? I haven’t thought much about this, but I am an organ donor. I don’t think my brain would look any different than anyone else’s. I don’t think I could teach others how to use their brain the way I did. My way of coping with my childhood abuse was something beyond my control. Believe me, you would only become a multiple personality if you had to.

Thank you for all your interest and questions,

Karen

Comment by Tara on September 15, 2008 12:02 am
Karen,

Just curious? If I knew someone who said she knew you, would you acknowledge this person here in your q & a? This person in question claims to know you personally. I admire you, and said so. This person said you are real and her friend? We live in Rhode Island. Do you have a friend in Rhode Island?

I would also like to know more about what was not written in the book, like how you and your psychiatrist author communicated during years of therapy. Did he write all that you said down as he listened to you or did you write everything down for him before your appointments? I journal, did you? If you did, Who has access to all your journals? Can your journals be viewed online?

I read Switching Time three times and tried to analyze it. It’s impossibly great! What a puzzle! A true mind teaser. Great writing!

Tara

Dear Tara,

I’m not sure if I have a friend in Rhode Island. However, it’s possible. I have many friends; some I have lost contact with over the years. If she knows me she would know how to find me, if she wanted to.

There is definitely much more of my journey with Dr. Baer that hasn’t been published. I have always journaled. My journals and writings are in the care of Dr. Baer and myself. We haven’t published them for viewing on line; there’s just too much.

Dr. Baer and I communicated verbally and through my written words. Dr. Baer also took many notes during our sessions. Since I always wrote to him, much of what I shared with Dr. Baer was documented in my writings. For me, writing was an escape. I wrote to vent on paper what I could not always verbally share. Mailing these writings to Dr. Baer seemed to set me free. There was always too much to share during our limited session times. Besides, writing helped me let go of my pain and helped Dr. Baer understand me more.

Thank you for reading Switching Time and trying to analyze it. And, thank you, for your compliments, especially that Switching Time is a puzzle and a true mind teaser!

Karen

Comment by Susie on September 13, 2008 1:50 pm
Dear Karen,

What keeps you going and prevents you from ending your life? In one of your previous answers you mentioned that you still have these thoughts sometimes. I don’t mean to sound rude, but where do you see yourself in five years?

Susie

Dear Susie,

It’s true; I still have thoughts of ending my life at times. I know these “thoughts” are old responses to stress and I have no intention of acting on them. I try my best to overcome these thoughts by reaching out to someone close, praying, or diverting my attention to something pleasant, like losing myself in a good book. I will try most anything to break the pattern of these distressed thoughts when I have them. I believe each day brings something new, and although I still struggle some nights, I’ll continue to try my best to understand why I react this way and work through it. I am always happy when I awake each morning and know that I am alive and well, ready with a promise to myself to start a new day.

In five years, I hope my life continues to improve. I have faith and believe all will be well. Maybe I’ll be able to travel around the world, feel loved, be a grandmother, and enjoy my life in ways that I never thought possible. I do have dreams, and in my dreams, I live.

Karen

Comment by kelly flynn v. on September 12, 2008 7:18 pm
dear karen,

thank you for answering all these questions. i have learned a lot from reading your answers. the book was so good i wanted to know more.

how do you deal with the questions that hurt you?

kelly flynn v.

Dear Kelly Flynn,

When I sit down to answer these questions, I write quickly, so I don’t dwell on them. I answer each question to the best of my ability. Once answered, I put them aside. If something should disturb me, I talk it over with Dr. Baer after answering it. I believe each question is important and helps the reader to process my story better. So far I haven’t really been traumatized by any one question.

Thanks for asking and caring,

Karen

Comment by MD on September 11, 2008 5:44 am
Dear Karen,

Switching Time, is breathtaking! It was well written and very detailed in explaining the cause and effect of multiple personality disorder or now known, Dissociative Identity Disorder. Remarkable read! Congratulations to you and Dr. Richard Baer!

Keep up the great job in answering these questions! Keep your spirits up and please make sure Dr. Baer is there for you when you need him. He should not let you go into another depression because of bringing up the past. He must continue to care for you. Does he? Does he know how the emotional toll in doing something like this can cause a relapse one day? I hope you haven’t relapsed yet. It’s inevitable. I hope you are aware of this?

I am a psychiatrist who is concerned about your mental well being. I assume you must be feeling overwhelmed, not only with answering these type of questions, but with your personal life. Who is there for you now? If you need another therapist to replace Dr. Baer, I’d love to help? I am Chicago based.

Loved your ability to survive such horror.

Take Care!
MD

Dear MD,

Thank you for your compliments and for your concern about my mental well being. I enjoy answering these questions; it’s therapy for me. I admit there are times I feel overwhelmed and a bit emotional, but this is what I choose to do with my life. It’s always been important to me to help others. I have survived something horrific and am glad to help now in any way I can. I know there are many who are in need of inspiring stories to help them complete their own journeys, and it is my hope they may find strength through reading Switching Time.

I do try my best to keep my spirits up! And, yes, Dr. Baer is there for me whenever I feel overwhelmed or overly emotional. Dr. Baer knows me better than I know myself. He is very concerned, is in touch with me on a regular basis, and makes sure the lines of communication between us stay open. I feel optimistic that if I started to fall into another depression, he would see this and would help me through it. I am sure Dr. Baer knows and understands the possible emotional toll all this can be on me. Talking about my past isn’t always pleasant, but I feel certain I won’t relapse. I am aware of my feelings and I share them with Dr. Baer.

I appreciate your offer to be a therapist for me. But I am doing as well as can be expected, and have Dr. Baer and great friends who support me.

Karen

Comment by Liselotte on September 11, 2008 2:30 am
Karen,

What a mind boggling book! I couldn’t put it down! I just found your website by accident when I searched for more info on the paperback so I could buy my friend your book. I won’t part with mine. You know how it goes, your loan out a favorite book, never to be with it again. Well, not this book. Do you ever look at the comments people left on amazon.com? There are more five star than any other! Great news for you and Richard Baer!

The paperback looks cool, who designed it, you? I am curious as to the meaning of the ink blot face thing. What does it mean exactly from the medical standard ink blot test? If you don’t know does the author Richard Baer know?

Liselotte

Dear Liselotte,

Thank you for not wishing to part with Switching Time; it makes me happy to know that my story has touched you and is one of your favorites. And thank you for purchasing a second book for your friend!

Yes, I do occasionally check Amazon.com to read the comments by our readers. I am very interested in what people have to say. I am also amazed that so many readers find Switching Time an incredible read. Dr. Baer and I wanted to share our story hoping to help readers understand the illness I once suffered from. I have learned quite a bit from everyone’s comments, including the few one star comments. I empathize with those who don’t wish to accept multiple personality disorder as a real illness. My wish is to bring awareness to those who disbelieve.

The paperback version of Switching Time was designed by an artist at Random House. I think the ink blot was meant to represent the psychological unconscious, where all my alternate selves lived.

Thank you, again, for all your enthusiasm,

Karen

Comment by Brice on September 7, 2008 7:33 pm
Dear Karen,

Wow! In return, I thoroughly appreciate your honesty and frankness in answering my questions. I had to know? You see, if I were you I would’ve killed those bastards. I am still dumbfounded that anyone, not just you, could survive something so horrific. How you didn’t become a drug addict, murderer or misfit in society is somewhat of a shock to me. Don’t you agree? Most people who suffer from past abuse don’t make it. You are definitely one exception to the rule. I learned something from your book. Not to assume or judge those who suffered from past abuse. Anyway I needed to hear an answer and you provided one. Thank you.

Brice

Dear Brice,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I can understand you wanting to kill those who hurt me, at times I felt this way, too. But what would’ve happened to me? I’d be imprisoned for what I’d done, not my abusers for what they had done. I chose to live rather than destroy my life: something, my abusers never thought possible.

I suppose victims of child abuse could turn out to be drug addicts, murderers, or misfits of society. I was fortunate to develop the coping mechanism of dissociation, but everyone that suffers abuse must cope as best they can and in their own way. I was fortunate to develop a strong desire to do good and not hurt anyone. I survived because as a child I formed alternate personalities to help me get through the abuse I suffered until I was able to seek help for myself as an adult. Some victims of abuse may be stronger than others, but all of us hurt. I was lucky to have received the help I needed to keep me from destroying my life. Not only did my alters keep me safe, Dr. Baer was there to always help me stay on the side of reality.

Karen

Comment by irena on September 9, 2008 4:11 am
Dear Karen,

hello again. Big congratulations on the paperback release of Switching Time!

In Australia today, September 9, we are having what is called White Balloon Day.

http://www.whiteballoonday.com.au/

This is an initiative to specifically raise awareness of child sexual abuse. It is in it’s early days but doing great work in the community. Last year after white balloon day there were 519 reports to the police in one city alone. I think without a doubt child sexual abuse is the most culturally suppressed and hidden of all crimes and also personally the most difficult and anguishing to expose. There is so much that still needs to be done to protect children and help adolescent and adult survivors and your book is at the crest of a wave that I hope is gaining momentum.

It is interesting that although your DID and MPD were the subject of Dr Baer’s book, it’s your actual circumstances as a child and subsequent survival that are what people relate to and feel the need to talk
about most. You’re as ever amazing and inspiring in your answers to people. Keep up the wonderful writing.

Best Regards,

Irena

Dear Irena,

Wow! What a coincidence! Our paperback, Switching Time, coming out on “White Balloon Day” in Australia is amazing! Devoting a day to bring awareness to child sexual abuse is a great idea. I’m glad to hear that there is such a day and hope many true reports of child abuse come in.

You are so right to say that child sexual abuse is one of the most culturally surpressed and hidden of all crimes, and the most difficult to expose. You are also right that there is so much more that needs to be done to protect children and to help adolescent and adult survivors.

Thank you for all your encouraging words and especially for recommending my story to help people come to an understanding of the effects of child sexual abuse. Switching Time may be a book about multiple personality, but I was also a victim of sexual abuse. Although MPD was my personal coping mechanism, all children who suffer will cope in their own way. We need to help them all we can.

Thank you, Irena, for all your support and good wishes,

Karen

Comment by n on September 9, 2008 1:26 am
Hi !

Thanks for your incredible work on this topic. I am a survivor of DID also.

N

Dear N,

Thank you for believing our work on MPD. Dr. Baer and I appreciate your compliment. I am glad to hear that you also are a survivor of DID. I hope all is well with you.

Best wishes,
Karen