Mental Health Bookclub discussion

In June our nonfiction group read is Switching Time: A Doctor's Harrowing Story of Treating a Woman with 17 Personalities by Richard Baer. You chose this via poll (results here).

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.

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.

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.

Please use this thread to post questions and comments at any time.

HI Di,
I just finished reading the book and I was fascinated , intrigued disgusted ,angered and I could not put the book down . I thought the way Dr. Baer interacted with all of Karen’s alters was genuine and heart felt . DID presents as a complicated personality disorder and has been criticized by many in the medical community as being a personality disorder that often is misunderstood and discounted . I am glad you selected the book for June. I hope more people comment on the book and participate in the discussion.
Dawn( more to come)

Read it in 2017, don't quite remember what bothered me about it that I gave it 3 stars. Probably angered me in a bad way or I didn't like therapists approach.

Yes Di, I had a lot of questions i feel he did not answer . Like what medication was she on, did he have doubts about her alters, and did she get retribution for any of the abuse.