Comment by Lionel on 07 Sep 2009 at 4:06 pm

Dear Karen,

Started class on your story.  I think I’d like to furthur my studies in psych. How fascinating the mind is.  Especially yours!  I have an analytical mind and have so much more interest then most. I will be reading all that you write plus your articles. How great Dr. Baer was to help you. How great you are to help me. Thanks much!

Lionel

Dear Lionel,

What a great compliment!  Thank you!  To think of furthering your studies in psychology after reading my story is simply inspirational.

Read away, read all that you can, not only our articles and the articles of others. Reading will bring knowledge, and knowledge brings understanding of psychologically fascinating illnesses like multiplicity.

Yes, I am grateful for Dr. Baer’s help, and grateful to be here helping you in the best way I can.  Thank you for your encouraging words.  Please know that you can write Dr. Baer and me here on our blog or on Facebook.

Thank your for your interest in learning more.  Wishing you all my best as you continue on your journey through school.

Karen

Comment by Juls on 06 Sep 2009 at 6:52 pm

KAREN! I’m hoping you get a rest on Labor Day. You have done so much for so many people! I luvs you too! Thank you for the lovely prayer. It put a great big smile on my face. This next Wednesday the girls start school. The heat wave has finally broken a bit. It was getting to be a lot like the dead of winter only instead of cold… intense heat. But now it’s back to being comfortable.

I pray that you feel God’s presence. There’s a lot for you to consider as so many people look up to you. I do too.

With Love,

Juls

Dear Juls,

Thank you so much for writing in and wishing me a restful Labor Day!  I hope you have a restful Labor Day, too!  And thank you for providing me with a sense of purpose. Your gentle reminder is well accepted! The prayer sent in has touched me, too!

Thank you!

Karen

Comment by Devoted Passenger on your Journey on 06 Sep 2009 at 6:34 pm

Hey Karen! I think the new season is starting on, The United Staes of Tara! Will you please, please, please, once again share your comments on the IMDb Message Board! I have to say I missed you all summer but definitely have been enjoying your answers on this blog. I swear you made me laugh at times. You are so smart and have so much wisdom. I am overwhelmed with how well you do in your quest to help others. There is not one selfish bone in your body, is there? The answer your wrote on to guard your heart, well back at you. Be careful, you are an asset whether Oprah believes so or not. I am still pissed that she hasn’t called you. See ya on the Boards, I hope!

Devoted passenger on your journey

Dear Devoted Passenger,

Of course I will add my comments to the new season of “The United States of Tara”! I’m not sure that the USoT Showtime series has started their new season yet, but I promise to watch for it and add my thoughts when I can. It is my hope to help bring an understanding of the illness of multiplicity, and not mock or cause insult to the show.  I believe we all learn from each other.  I have learned just as much from the viewers of USoT that they have learned from me.

Regarding Oprah…please don’t be pissed that she hasn’t called.  There are reasons for everything.  If it was meant for Dr. Baer and me to be her guests, it will happen some day.  Thank you for believing our story is Oprah worthy!  That means a lot to us.

Thank you for all your kind thoughts and compliments!  I truly appreciated them.  I will continue to try my best.  And yes, I will guard my heart!  Thank you for the reminder!

See you on th IMDb Message Board soon!

Karen

Comment by A Prayer for You on 06 Sep 2009 at 4:45 am

Dear God:

The girl reading this is beautiful, classy and strong, and I love her.

Help her live her life to the fullest.

Please promote her and cause her to excel above her expectations.

Help her shine in the darkest places where it is impossible to love.

Protect her at all times, lift her up when she needs you the most, and let her know when she walks with you.  She will always be safe.

Love you Girl!!!!

Dear Friend,

What a beautiful prayer!  I really needed to hear this!  Thank you!  Your kind thoughts, prayer, and wishes for me to continue to have the best life possible touch me.

Thank you for loving me!

Karen

Comment by Kris on 06 Sep 2009 at 12:24 am

Hi Karen,

I was at the library searching for information on feelings for my class when your story came up. It sounded interesting so I thought I’d take it out and there was eleven people waiting to read it? I know times are bad but eleven people in line to read your story/ How strange I thought? Well, when I am interested in something there is no way I will wait so I went to Borders to buy it, and no books were available but only to order. Again, I strange I thought? Where is this book? Why so hard to find? I bet it’s all sound out because it’s so good. I ordered Switching time but need to wait until Wednesday to receive it? How ridiculous. I am happy I found your blog. It will satisfy me this weekend before Tuesday class and before I receive your book in the mail. I thought you and Richard Baer should know how hard it is to get your book. I also wanted to let you know its being sold at the college bookstore and was out waiting for a shipment. A note to all those people waiting to read the book. You can buy your own for less than you think on Amazon.com. Why wait to read it? The way I see it each person is allowed two weeks before having to return to the library, eleven people means the last person may be waiting a long long time. People give these two your sale. Karen’s story sounds amazing. Richard Baer sounds like he know his stuff. Thank you very much.

Kris

Dear Kris,

Thank you for sharing your adventure in the library!  Wow!  I’m amazed (and happy) there was a waiting list at the library to read my story.  That’s very encouraging, especially during these bad economic times in which people can’t afford as many luxuries, such as buying books, as they once did. To hear that our story is of such interest touches me.

I personally love to buy books, whether used or not, because when I enjoy reading a book that inspires me, I want to own it, no matter what.  But I understand those who wait to buy a book. Thank you for encouraging our readers to buy our book.  That’s very thoughtful of you.  I checked on-line under Amazon.com and it’s true, there are many used books available for purchase at a lower cost.  It’s my hope the troubled economy gets back on track and more people will enjoy what they once did, especially buying books again.  I wonder how many others have had to wait to read our story.

Dr. Baer and I are trying to work out the details to sell a limited supply of the hardcover edition of Switching Time here on our web site.  It will be a collector’s item, signed by both Dr. Baer and myself.

Thank you so much for your determination to help us with future sales. Your enthusiasm inspires me.

Karen

Comment by Sharon on 05 Sep 2009 at 8:29 pm

This year is your twentieth anniversary of walking into therapy with Richard Baer, the shrink. How do you feel about it? Do you recall the exact anniversary date? Will you celebrate or grieve? Can you believe it’s been twenty years? I loved, really loved the book! Congratulations of 20 years of success!

Sharon, Arizona

Dear Sharon,

Thank you for remembering such an important time for me and Dr. Baer!  Twenty years? WOW!  I hadn’t realized that it’s been that long. The first day I walked into Dr. Baer’s office was on January 11, 1989.  I’m in awe remembering all that has transpired for both of us during the last twenty years.  There have been so many changes in both our lives.  Too many to list here!  I recall the day I started therapy.  My daughter was three and a half years old and just started pre-school, freeing up some of my time to take care of myself.  My son was in the first grade, and is now married!  Amazing how time flies!  My children grew up knowing that Dr. Baer was taking care of my heart. That’s what I would tell them whenever they asked who he was.  I’d say, “Dr. Baer makes my mommy’s heart feel better.”

What’s most amazing is that with Dr. Baer’s help, I raised my children to be fine adults. I couldn’t have done that without his calm and steady guidance during my chaotic life, dark days, and not so healthy marriage.  I received my strength, my ability to trust, my faith and determination to make things right, by the support received during those therapeutic years. That is truly a miracle in my eyes.

Today, as I read your letter I feel a deep appreciation for the God sent, perfect time for me to heal from a horrific past.  I am forever grateful. Yes, this is a time worth celebrating!

Thank you.

Karen

Comment by John Paul on 05 Sep 2009 at 11:01 am

What’s the point of no return to an altered way of life? Whose to say that you can’t recreate your alters to survive again? What’s the point of integration if all the dysfunction that was seperate is now joined together making up one more confused depressed person? Why does anyone need to remember the past abuse before moving on? Who cares’? The past is the past why not just forget about it? Why not leave well enough alone and stay alive with alters? What’s the big deal?

John Paul

Dear John Paul,

I’m not sure I understand what you mean by the point of no return from an altered way of life.  If you mean, is it possible to regret and fall back into such a life after integration, then the answer in no, it wasn’t for me.  There is no way I can go back to that part of my past.  However, it’s possible that a new stress could create some anxiety that may trigger a past thought and temporarily cause me distress.  But no alter can re-surface.  My alters were integrated and no longer exist as separate parts.  If something should happen to disturb me now, I would need to figure out how to deal with that new issue in a new way, on my own.

For a multiple, integrated or not, life continues to be a journey to heal.  A lifetime of therapy can’t cure such severe feelings of past abuse.  What is helpful is to keep looking forward and have faith.  What is best for me is to not to become highly stressed.  When stressed all thoughts tend to drift back to trigger dark thoughts, deep sadness, and possible suicidal thoughts.  Multiplicity continues to be a mystery to me.  I continue to struggle by trying my best to stay stress free, in hope that I can function at my best.

I don’t believe it’s possible for me to re-create alters again.  Remember alters are born in a child’s formative years in order to help a child survive severe abuse.  Adults experience many life changes, circumstances, trials, but have too much knowledge to create an alter.  I believe the more mature one is, the harder it is to create an alter.  I don’t believe I ever heard of an adult creating an alter.  In my opinion, if an adult has an alter, that alter was probably created during childhood.

Why not leave well enough alone and live with the alters? Nonsense, an impossibility. Why? Because all was not well enough to leave alone in the first place. What’s the big deal? Alters cause chaos, lots of chaos, and they prevent you from growing and developing as a person.  You get stuck in your childhood way of coping that doesn’t let you see the world for what it really is.  There is no sense of calm and peace when alters are running one’s life.  Integration is the best choice if a multiple chooses to live in peace.

Thank you for your challenging questions.

Karen

Comment by Margaret M on 05 Sep 2009 at 10:29 am

Dear Richard and Karen,

How are you? I am really glad you wrote your story together. I received your book as a gift yesterday. I haven’t read the entire book but stayed up half the night and read through page two hundred something. I know I will finish it after class today. I am a pysch major and want to know how your book passed through the cracks of the medical world? Dr. Baer did you try to address MPD at any conventions? Is your book known to the AMA?

Karen, you are surely an inspiration to all. I believe your work is a great medical accomplishment. A sacrifice of your self to help save others. God Bless you. I also agree Dr. Baer’s work is not over. I read the answer you gave MD. I am concerned about something. Does Dr. Baer know the complexity of shared knowledge by releasing a patients history?

Congrats to you! I wish I knew about your book two years ago. I surely could’ve used it last year.

Margaret M.

Dear Margaret,

Thank you so much for your enthusiasm!  It’s nice to hear when a student shows great interest.  It must seem our story fell through the cracks of the medical world, but it is being used in class work in many universities, so that is quite rewarding.  So Switching Time has not quite fallen through the cracks.  I believe our story will be told over and over again as the years pass.  One reason for the lack of exposure is that the illness of multiple personality disorder has taken on quite a bit of debate. To believe or not to believe? Should my story be taken seriously? It really should!

Dr. Baer and I documented all our therapeutic years, and there is no other case study of MPD that is so accurate and well written.  For eighteen years Dr. Baer did an amazingly thorough job in treating me.  I believe the medical world should take notice of his work.  Dr. Baer should get an award for treating me in order to bring knowledge to the world. I was definitely not an easy case to treat. I challenged him daily.

The illness MPD is real, although not well understood.  Dr. Baer’s work with me is a lesson not to be forgotten.  Actually, the complexity of a dissociative life is an amazing coping mechanism when a child is repeatedly abused for a long period of time.  Dr. Baer saw the value of my journey and together we decided to share.  It is my hope to help in the best way I can.  Sharing gives me purpose.

There is so much more to learn about the illness I survived.  Dr. Baer and I are more than willing to share all that we learned in the process of healing me.  I surely appreciate all the over-time he put in to understand the horror of my child abuse and how I survived it.  I don’t believe another psychiatrist would’ve invested that much time.  I am forever grateful.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and compliments!

Karen

Comment by Renate on 05 Sep 2009 at 9:32 am

Hello Karen,

I live in Germany and want to know why the book hasn’t been published in my country. I am visiter here in States. I read Indonesia, China, Japan, Sweden, Netherlands, UK and Tiawan have version of book. I would be most certain Germany would publish. Who do contact for informacion?

Renate

Dear Renate,

Welcome to the United States of America!  I hope you are enjoying your stay here.  I’m not sure why a German publisher hasn’t picked up our story.  They buy the American books they believe they can sell.  It’s an imperfect system. Dr. Baer and I thought they would be interested, too!  Regarding who to contact, I believe it would be a German publishing company, or maybe a magazine or television show.  I believe that if there was an interest shown, a German publisher would consider publishing a German version of Switching Time.  We have been very fortunate to be published in the countries you list above.  Recently, just last month, Taiwan published our story.  It’s never too late; it can still happen.  Dr. Baer and I would be thrilled.

Thank you for your interest.  I have copies of our foreign book covers on my Facebook page.  I believe you can browse the Internet to find many articles and interviews about our book from different countries around the world. Maybe there are articles published that we are unaware of?

Karen

Comment by Luiza on 04 Sep 2009 at 12:08 pm

There are some truly sick people out there. Just ran into one yesterday. Keep doing what you’re doing Karen.

Dear Luiza,

I know!  It’s true there are many different types of people in the world, and some are most certainly sick.  It’s hard to know when you’ll run into one. There are signs to watch for.  As parents and adults we owe it to our children to pay attention to all those around us.  If you feel uncomfortable, there is a reason.

Thanks for encouraging me to continue on here on the blog.

Karen