Comment by Adam on 15 Jan 2010 at 10:33 am Hey Richard & Karen!
 Amazing story! I am a student of psychology pre-med. I am fascinated with your story and how the brain can protect an abuse victim. My question for you Karen is: While suffering headaches did you also have delusions or visions of past abuse simultaneously? Richard, Did Karen suffer headaches while under hypnosis? Did she suffer after each session? How long did it take Karen to re-group once her session completed? Do you believe hypnosis was helpful or hindered Karen’s healing? 
Thank you. Richard, your writing is exceptional. Karen, thank you for contributing to the medical world, your story is highly regarded to us psych students.

Adam

Dear Adam,

Thank you for your thought provoking questions! My headaches came and went at all different times. I recall I suffered headaches almost all the time. Sometimes I would recall a painful memory during a headache, and then try to dismiss that memory and deal with the pain as if it were just the headache. During a headache I never suffered delusions. Switching from one alter to another would cause headaches, as would stress and feeling overwhelmed with reality and memory recall. I believe my headaches were tension headaches.

Dr. Baer said during hypnosis my headaches would disappear, only to return, lessened, after I came out of it.

Thank you for your compliments! I am glad to hear that Switching Time has become a challenging study for psychology and medical students. It is my hope to bring awareness and knowledge while encouraging hope through sharing my story.

Wishing you all my best as you continue your studies.

Karen