Comment by Pete on 13 Apr 2009 at 8:51 pm

Hi Karen,

I lived with a young lady for over 4 years. It wasn’t until recently I discovered the illness responsible for her behavior was DID. She was abandoned as an infant and raised in a Korean orphanage until about the age of 5. I just recently did research on Korean orphanages and was shock to the abuse mixed blood children suffer in that society. She was raised by German parents and spent most of her adult life abroad where we met in 2005.  As I read “Switching Time” each significant event takes me back over the last 4 years reliving each event in the context of her behavior under very similar situations. She was recently released from jail and the state hospital here. Unfortunately she was not properly diagnosed by the state and they released her to the Salvation Army Shelter for Women. The local authorities threaten to arrest me if I bring her back into my neighborhood. To this day I don’t know if she is receiving proper medical care. I can’t forget the last four years and feel guilty that I couldn’t do more to help her. I am starting a foundation with a group of Faith-based Organizations to provide care to women who suffer with this condition. I admire you for your bravery to tackle this condition, I know from first hand experience the pain that you and others endure.

With best regards,

Pete

Dear Pete,

Thank you for sharing your story. I am saddened by your friend’s hard life. However, I’m glad to hear she had you for a friend for the four years. I can empathize with your frustration that your friend was not diagnosed properly while she spent time in prison and the state hospital. Multiplicity is not easily recognizable. Most people dismiss such behavior as schizophrenic.  Therefore, many multiples are treated inappropriately. That’s why Dr. Baer and I wanted to share our story. To bring more attention and awareness to MPD/DID.

It must be unsettling for you not to know what happened to your friend.   I hope that you may one day find her or she may find you.In my case, I have a poor sense of time. What may take years to pass might seem to be one day for me.  When you find her, you may find that she may not know that many years have passed between you.

You didn’t mention why the local authorities threatened to arrest you if your friend returns home.  If that’s truly so, they must believe her to be a threat.  Maybe she will be rehabilitated and function with her multiplicity in a healthier way.  I’m sure the inner pain she is experiencing is devastating to her. I am glad that Switching Time has provided you with some understanding regarding her suffering. As you know by living with her, a multiple’s world is not peaceful.

Thank you for starting a foundation with a group of faith-based organizations to provide care to women who suffer with this illness. That is very important to know. It may help one of our readers.

Thank you for your compliments and for caring enough to make a difference. 

Karen