Comment by Mr. Johnson on November 3, 2008 2:57 pm

Hi Karen,
What in your opinion do you think about other people who claim to be like you? I read other books like Herchel Walkers story, First Person Plural, Sybil, Three Face of Eve, the movie, and more. Switching Time is the best book by far! I kept reading to find a worthwhile explanation to satisfy my nagging questions of how to understand my great auntʼs claim of mpd. I found all my answers in Richard Baers book of your story. I can stop torturing myself with crap. Thanks for bringing truth about this medically questionable, hard to comprehend illness. Much appreciate you and Richard Baer.
Thank you, Mr. Johnson.

Dear Mr. Johnson,

In my opinion, there are many ways people experience trauma. I haven’t read all the stories you mentioned, and I can’t say whether I believe them or not.  Pain is pain, no matter how you write about it.  I tried my best to share my story hoping to help others realize what can happen to a child who is abused, and how one such child, myself, grew to survive.  I hope Dr. Baer’s rendition of our story brings an understanding of this illness to everyone.

Thank you for sharing that Switching Time made a difference in your understanding MPD.  This is what we had hoped for!  I am glad you found the answers to your nagging questions.  I admire your determination to learn more about your aunt. 

Thank you for all your compliments, and especially for caring about your aunt.

Karen

Comment by Anonymous on November 3, 2008 5:55 pm

Dear Karen,

Are you registered to vote? Can you make one complete decision after reintegration of your alternate parts who each had different opinions? When you integrated you wrote you had a part of every alter inside you. I am curious if itʼs hard to make decisions. Is there a continued conflict when making decisions? Are you conflicted about the presidential vote? What would you have done if the alters were around, vote or not vote or vote many times? In the book or somewhere? I read about when you were worried about jury duty. Was it because of alter conflict? I would love to access your mind. I bet itʼs fascinating. Donʼt forget to vote!

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

Yes, I am registered to vote and it was the first thing I did this morning!  As a matter of fact, I also escorted four voters to the polls who were too ill to drive themselves.  I am one woman and made one decision based upon the facts as I know them.

Of course, there were times when it was hard for me to make a decision, but this was no different than anyone else who weighs the pro’s and con’s before commiting to something they believe in.  When my alters were active, most usually did not make any final decisions.  

I had no problem deciding who to vote for.  The amount of information and exposure in this election was overwhelming and gave all of us more of an opportunity to learn about our country.  Of course, I voted once!  There’s only one registered voter under my name, and that’s me.

Regarding my decision not to attend jury duty.  This decision was during a time of my not being able to control how my alters would react if the case happened to be one of child abuse, sexual abuse, or something similar.  I was afraid I’d lose time or switch to an indecisive alter.  I feared if accepted on any particular case that deserved punishment, my switching alters could bring on a hung jury and dismissal of a case.

Karen

Comment by Danielle Leigh on November 3, 2008 10:49 am

Dear Karen,

Thank you for answering me. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a answer to me from you and it was exactly what I needed to hear. I wasn’t feeling very good about myself. Thank you, you made me feel acceptable again. I am studying right now and stopped to think how your words of encouragement helped push me to be a better person. I have a renewed understanding of what life is about. Being privileged isn’t so bad if know what to do with what you have. I made some changes and continue to be more open to other people. I have curbed my desires. I now think before I purchase something off of my parent’s charge cards. I swear I thought life was all about what we have. Anyways, improper English but I like it, thank you for being nice and accepting of how I was feeling.

Danielle Leigh

Dear Danielle Leigh

Thank you for your kind words. I am glad that you are doing well and thinking through what life means to you. I admire your spirit.  It’s nice to hear your thoughts on how my story has made a difference in your life. It’s encouraging to hear that you have come to a more mature understanding of your life and your future.

I wish you all the best life has to offer.  Be happy, stay safe, and remember to trust your own instincts.

All my best,

Karen

Comment by Blanche B on November 2, 2008 6:04 pm

Dear Karen,

Thank you for this book! I couldn’t wait to write to you and your doctor. What an intimate journey between doctor and patient. I am feeling overwhelmed with joy reading how the two of you bonded and healed. I can imagine the dual healing experience. Richard Baer must have been going through his own journey to wholeness alongside yours. It should be written in the book that Dr. Baer had to learn about himself in order to help you. He could not have helped you without healing himself first. Is he healed yet? It was very interesting reading about his own personal struggles alongside yours. In the real world no one is unscathed when in any relationship. In some of your answers to previous questions you take ownership of all hurts. No way, you must not take ownership to all, it takes two, you and the doctor.

How come you guys aren’t doing book tours? Checked it out online. I was shopping at a store and asked where to find Switching Time and was told it wasn’t sold there because of its contents? Don’t get it.

Blanche B

Dear Blanche,

Thank you for sharing all of your thoughts on our journey.  You are right, the therapeutic relationship Dr. Baer and I shared was a very intimate and respectful relationship, as all therapeutic relationships should be, and we continue to share a close and respectful friendship.  It takes a very special doctor and a very determined patient to survive, bond, build rapport, respect, and trust to heal and accomplish all that we have.

I’m sure Dr. Baer has gone through his own personal journey during this time, however, he didn’t share that with me. In his training Dr. Baer went through his own psychoanayis to become a psychiatrist.  But I’m sure he also learned a lot about himself while taking care of me.  I believe Dr. Baer did a great job, and I’m very grateful that he accompanied me on my journey to becoming one.

I’m sorry if it appears that I apologize often and tend take ownership for every hurt that comes my way.  This is not my intent.  I am highly attuned to all that surrounds me.  I can’t help myself, this is who I am.  I know there are two sides to every relationship, and that I am not always the one at fault. 

Dr. Baer and I are interested in doing book tours, we just haven’t been asked to do more lately.  Dr. Baer has done many radio interviews in the US, and we have traveled to Amsterdam and Antwerp.  We hope to get the chance to travel together again. 

I’m not sure why the book store you went to didn’t carry Switching Time because of it’s content. We’ve not heard this before.  Is this bookstore censoring books for its customers?  I hope not.  Please check another store or order on-line.  Dr. Baer and I appreciate hearing from you.

Karen

Comment by Mary Jo on November 2, 2008 3:25 pm

Dearest Karen,

One powerful journey! One amazing book! One great doctor! One particularily amazing patient!
One question? Why do you believe God chose you to stay?

Mary Jo

Dear Mary Jo,

I believe God has chosen me and has placed me here to make a difference in our world–to bring awareness to the horrific reality of childhood sexual abuse and what can happen to a child’s mind when betrayed by those who the child believes, loves, cares for, and trusts.

I believe my multiple personality disorder to be a God sent coping mechanism.  I thank God everyday for saving me and for allowing me to share my journey to healing, with Dr. Baer’s help, to make a difference in the lives of all those who suffer.  I believe when something unthinkable happens, as in my being abused, it may seem impossible to believe one can overcome the scars caused from inner pain.  But it is possible.  It happened to me.

I do believe in tests of faith.  I survived by having faith, even when I wasn’t aware of it. 

God bless you,

Karen

Comment by Betty Joanne on November 3, 2008 11:24 pm

Hi Karen,

HELP! Where is everything at? I couldn’t find the Good Morning America interview, the alters picture, Richard Baer’s picture, the hard cover picture and other stuff that was on the website before. I feel like a idiot? I was trying to show people about your book and couldn’t find any of what I was looking for? It was there months ago where is is now? It needs to be put back on!

Desperately trying to save my sanity. I wasn’t seeing things!

Betty Joanne

Dear Betty Joanne,

I’m sorry!  You weren’t seeing things!  Everything you described is on the website, but our website is divided into two sections at this time. We’ll try to combine these two sites soon.  What you are looking for is on www.switchingtime.com.  Where you are right now is www.switchingtime.wordpress.com.  WordPress is the blog site that allows us to get readers’ comments and answer them.  I know this is confusing, it confuses me, too!

Thank you for sharing Switching Time with others.  Dr. Baer and I appreciate your enthusiasm.

Karen

Comment by Jean on November 2, 2008 11:37 pm

Hi Karen,

It sounds as if Simon is at the beginning of a career, which will not be terribly useful to those of us with DID. He might try to consider that for many of us dissociation is a gift from God and one which kept us alive.

The book ‘Switching Time’ was liberating for me. Thank you. I believe in your experience – it brings hope for mine.

Simon, are you scared that God might have allowed a phenomenon which reaches beyond science and outstretches even you. I am curious about your sentence, “I conclude and question.” I wonder if you are open to the answers?

I agree with Karen in that what you have written is incomprehensible – I only hope you are more easily able to build a rapport with patients.

Karen, Best wishes,

Jean

Dear Jean, 

I agree!  I tried to answer Simon’s comment, but I couldn’t understand where he was going with his words.  I believe he was trying to make sense of an illness for which there hasn’t been much information.  I don’t believe Simon was looking for an answer from me.  I believe he was stating his own opinions. 

I, too, hope that Simon is able to build rapport with his patients; I especially hope he keeps some of his opinions to himself.  How horribly devasting it would be for a MPD/DID patient to confide in him and hear his incomprehensible views.

Thank you, Jean, for your kind thoughts and compliments.

Karen

Comment by Someone who cares on November 2, 2008 1:37 pm

Karen Overhill,

In your old multiple world who was the alter responsible for making decisions and keeping you safe? Who is responsible since integration? What kept you alive these years and what could kill you these days? Has anyone betrayed you? What about Richard Baer? In analyzing Switching Time it is my belief Richard Baer did. I personally witnessed the amazing you, the power behind your healing must be dealt with indefinitely, forgiveness is inevitable, and betrayal is not acceptable. Stop trusting him. I personally know him and heʼs not being honest with you.

Someone who cares.

Dear Someone Who Cares,

Do you really?  I appreciate your overall concern regarding my relationship with Richard Baer.  But if you truly personally know me and Dr. Baer, which I doubt, then you would be empathetic and understand how difficult our journey together has been.  Dr. Baer and I worked very hard together to share our therapeutic journey so that all would understand the difficulty treating seventeen parts of one woman.

I’ve been betrayed before, but not by Dr. Baer.  I trust Dr. Baer.  Why would he betray me now after all that we’ve accomplished for almost twenty years?  If you truly know Dr. Baer personally, as you claim, and you believe he is being dishonest with me, then I’m sorry you feel this way.  Dr. Baer nor I share your concerns regarding each other.  Without knowing what you are referring to, I feel you are being dishonest with me and I refuse to be manipulated by you.

Karen

Comment by T on November 1, 2008 1:54 am

Karen,

What kind of drugs do you take for mpd? How long were you on these drugs? What an inspiring life journey you encountered. How did you control the alters intake of medication/? What if you overdosed when two or more alters would take the same dosages?

Thank you.

T

Dear T,

In my opinion, for I am not a medical doctor and can’t give advice, I do not believe there are any prescription drugs that would help anyone with MPD/DID.  In my case, prescription drugs only masked my illness. I realized this early in my therapy and decided never take any prescription drugs long term.  As a matter of fact, I rarely stuck to the prescriptions Dr. Baer prescribed.  Sure, I would have them filled, bring them home, and set the bottles in the medicine cabinet, where I took them inconsistently, if at all.

I believe Dr. Baer tried his very best to find something that would help my suicidal thoughts, severe depression, and lost time.  I admired his efforts, but I knew the medications weren’t helping me. I never did share this fact with Dr. Baer, because I feared being hospitalized.

I believe there is no better treatment than simply talk therapy.  My alters decided no more drugs, with the one exception of a mild anti-anxiety medication, taken as needed, and not often, for those times I was in great distress.

Most of my alters never took medications or made major decisions.  My alters were created in order for me to function at my best, in every area of my life, even through in an altered state of mind.  Each alter had to function within their given purpose.  My alters made sure all precautions would be made to avoid alter chaos within my inner world.

Thank you for being inspired by my life story and for your challenging questions.

Karen