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
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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