Comment by Alicia on 21 May 2012 at 4:40 pm

Hi Karen,

I’m a sophomore in high school reading your book for a report in AP Psychology. This book shows me that people have gone through great things that I have never thought could happen to just one person. You are genuinely an amazing person, and so is Dr. Baer. I’m glad he published this book to show that it is possible a person can overcome any obstacle. I just have a question, so basically all of you dissociatives just went away? I don’t understand; could you explain?

Dear Alicia,

Thank you for your interest and compliments! Dr. Baer and I truly appreciate hearing from you! I’m glad the book was published, too, but for me the book shares more than just the healing process of a multiple. It’s also communicates my desire to encourage hope to others through sharing my story.

As for your question, yes, all my alters (alternate personalities, dissociatives as you refer to them) no longer survive as separate selves. My alters have merged within me to create one complete woman with a variety of interests. This happened slowly, over a few years time, through integration of my fragmented selves. As an adult there was no further reason for me to actively dissociate. I matured to handle adult issues and no longer needed, nor required, my past, childlike coping mechanisms in order to survive with alter help.

Wishing you all my best!

Karen