Comment by Merrill, PhD on 23 Feb 2010 at 9:45 am

Hi Karen,

What a trip you are! Congrats on surviving! Just finished reading your story and can’t stop thinking of all of your alters individual personalities. I am amazed Dr. Baer’s professional mindset kept them all straight. Being someone who befriended a mpd person for fifteen years I still get confused. I give you both an applause. In one book you both managed to tell it like it is in a language we the reader can understand. It was powerful, nerve wrecking, disgusting, sincere, loving, compassionate and a journey into the mind of a patient, you Karen, are remarkable. Can’t say enough. Recommending to all my friends and students.

Merrill, PhD

Dear Dr. Merrill,

Thank you! I agree, I’m also amazed Dr. Baer was able to keep each alter straight. But that didn’t come easy for him. It took time, patience, and nerves of steel to maintain his composure while being unnerved by each alter’s unique and distinct characteristics.

Dr. Baer needed to pay close attention to each of my seventeen alters. Building rapport and trust with each was a challenge. Treating me was time consuming, and at times frustrating. If Dr. Baer was confused about me or any one of my alters, I never knew it. Why? Because he was good at shielding his thoughts and emotions from me. That amazes me because I’m a highly attuned person. I read people well but never picked up on Dr. Baer’s ill thoughts, if he had any. It was important for Dr. Baer to stay the same for me.  If he had talked too much, asked too many questions, or if I had felt threatened in any way, I would have run, never to return.

Thank you for your compliments and for recommending our story to others! I will pass your comments on to Dr. Baer. I’m sure he will appreciate hearing your thoughts, just as I have. I am especially touched by you saying that Switching Time was written in a way for all to understand. That means a lot to us. It was important for me and Dr. Baer to share the truth about our journey in the best way possible. For us, bringing knowledge to an incomprehensible illness was our purpose.

Karen