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Switching Time: A Doctor's Harrowing Story of Treating a Woman with 17 Personalities | 
 enlarge | Author: Richard Baer
Publisher: Crown
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy Used: $4.57
You Save: $20.38 (82%)
New (41) Used (37) from $4.57
Avg. Customer Rating:  51 reviews
Sales Rank: 99914
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.4
ISBN: 0307382664
Dewey Decimal Number: 616.852360092
EAN: 9780307382665
ASIN: 0307382664
Publication Date: October 2, 2007
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Product Description
One afternoon in 1989, Karen Overhill walks into psychiatrist Richard Baer’s office complaining of vague physical pains and depression. Odder still, she reveals that she’s suffering from a persistent memory problem. Routinely, she “loses” parts of her day, finding herself in places she doesn’t remember going to or being told about conversations she doesn’t remember having. Her problems are so pervasive that she often feels like an impersonator in her own life; she doesn’t recognize the people who call themselves her friends, and she can’t even remember being intimate with her own husband.
Baer recognizes that Karen is on the verge of suicide and, while trying various medications to keep her alive, attempts to discover the root cause of her strange complaints. It’s the work of months, and then years, to gain Karen’s trust and learn the true extent of the trauma buried in her past. What she eventually reveals is nearly beyond belief, a narrative of a childhood spent grappling with unimaginable horror. How has Karen survived with even a tenuous grasp on sanity?
Then Baer receives an envelope in the mail. It’s marked with Karen’s return address but contains a letter from a little girl who writes that she’s seven years old and lives inside of Karen. Soon Baer receives letters from others claiming to be parts of Karen. Under hypnosis, these alternate Karen personalities reveal themselves in shocking variety and with undeniable traits—both physical and psychological. One “alter” is a young boy filled with frightening aggression; another an adult male who considers himself Karen’s protector; and a third a sassy flirt who seeks dominance over the others. It’s only by compartmentalizing her pain, guilt, and fear in this fashion—by “switching time” with alternate selves as the situation warrants—that Karen has been able to function since childhood.
Realizing that his patient represents an extreme case of multiple personality disorder, Baer faces the daunting task of creating a therapy that will make Karen whole again. Somehow, in fact, he must gain the trust of each of Karen’s seventeen “alters” and convince them of the necessity of their own annihilation.
As powerful as Sybil or The Three Faces of Eve, Switching Time is the first complete account of such therapy to be told from the perspective of the treating physician, a stunningly devoted healer who worked selflessly for decades so that Karen could one day live as a single human being.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 46 more reviews...
 Magnificent October 9, 2008
Amazing read. Really enjoyed the book. The look into the interworkings of the psyche was facinating. The way the brain can change its chemistry to a adapt to God aweful situations is prevelant in this book. The writing is not too clinical but it doesn't dumb down anything either. Highly recommended.
Wow! Karen is an amazing woman! September 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is an amazing story of a woman overcoming terrible events in her childhood. It is terribly sad and difficult to believe, but it's out there. Bad stuff doesn't just happen on tv and the movies. This is real life about an amazing woman.
Saddest Story Ever Told September 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I borrowed this book from the library. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. It was the saddest story I've ever read. Karen's parents were crazy and ignorant. They choose her for abuse because of her childhood deformity and bad health. I think this proves that anyone can have children it takes special people to raise them in a health environment so that they will be healthy. I was so glad when her father died. I was happy for all the deaths of the crazy people in her life. I was fascinated by the descriptions of the intergrations. I could picture them as I read them. A very good read. It will be added to my personal collection. I'm pleased to see that the paperback copy has been published. Either edition of this book should be read and studied by every one who takes care of children. All teachers, coaches, and day care workers should be required to read this book so they know what to look for in the extreme abuse cases. It also helps to reenforce that not all child in a family will be abused. It's usually the weakest child who will be destined for abuse.
 Riveting but also remarkably vapid September 18, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Reading this book is like rubbernecking at an accident; you're drawn to the gruesome details against your better judgment. I'm still waiting for Oprah to reveal to the world that the book is a huge hoax, though the writer's credentials with Medicare suggest he wouldn't risk his career and reputation. Her tale is horrendous but even worse is the writer's inability to talk about its effect on him. What was he thinking and feeling as this woman revealed 17 personalities to him? All we know about him is that he's ambitious and status seeking. Anything he describes beyond Karen's tale is about his career trajectory and is written like a boring resume. Perhaps it was okay for him to sit silently and observe in therapy, but as the author of this book he owes it to the reader, if not to himself, to reveal his thoughts and emotions during what must have been a harrowing and incredible experience, assuming it's true.
 Captivating August 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I loved this book. I felt connected to each personality and wanted to know about them and their complicated "house". I couldn't put the book down and read it in 2 days. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the human mind, effects of childhood abuse and books that keep you wondering what will happen next. Very good read!
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