Switching Time, Richard Baer
Switching Time, Richard Baer
2 Rating(s)
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Switching Time
A Doctor's Harrowing Story of Treating a Woman with 17 Personalities

Author: Richard Baer

Narrator: Lloyd James

Unabridged: 12 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 10/15/2007


Synopsis

Switching Time is the first story centering on multiple personality disorder to be told by the treating physician. It is the incredible saga of a young woman stranded in unimaginable darkness who, in order to survive, created seventeen different versions of herself.

In 1989, Karen Overhill walked into the office of psychiatrist Richard Baer complaining of depression. She poured out a litany of complaints, but in the disengaged way of someone who has experienced a terrible trauma. Slowly, Baer began to peel back the layers, eventually learning that Karen had been the victim of childhood sexual abuse. As time passed, though, his patient worsened and began to talk continually of suicide. Details of her abuse accumulated until he saw, via hypnosis, the true dimension of what Karen had suffered.

Baer was at a loss to explain Karen's sanity, precarious though it was, until he received a letter from a little girl, Claire. One by one, Karen's "alters" began showing themselves—men, women, young boys, a toddler, black, white, vicious, nurturing, prim, licentious. And their "stepping out" confronted Baer with the challenge of a lifetime. Somehow, to save Karen, he would have to gain the trust of her alters in order to destroy them.

About Richard Baer

Richard Baer is the medical director of Medicare in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Before that, he spent fourteen years in private practice, where he treated a wide variety of general psychiatric and addictive disorders, and he has served as president of the Illinois Psychiatric Society. He is also a distinguished fellow of the American Medical Association.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Christina on January 09, 2011

I finished this book last night at 2 AM, I couldn't put it down. This has been the most twisted, disturbing and crazy book I have ever read. I rated four stars, but I wouldn't recommend it to the ladies in my book club! I think I might be sick in the head lol, but I was so fascinated by this book, t......more

Goodreads review by RJ on November 09, 2018

Imagine pretending to be asleep in order to overhear conversations between your family and friends, so that you can learn your mother's name, or where your husband works. Karen was continually searching for ways to hide her obvious insanity until a desperate call to a crisis hot-line in 1989, led he......more

Goodreads review by Kaye on June 28, 2013

This is a truly remarkable story. No, actually, I would say it is astounding. It's the true story of a 30-something young woman who started seeing a psychotherapist in 1989 because of depression and suicidal thoughts. Over the course of more than a decade of therapy, Dr. Richard Baer slowly uncovers......more

Goodreads review by Nancy on August 07, 2010

Whenever I read a book involving multiple personalities, The Minds of Billy Milligan, When Rabbit Howls, etc, my first response is always - no way, they have to be making this up. However, with this book, Switching Time, Richard Baer makes the trauma that Karen Overhill endured come across as convin......more

Goodreads review by Jessietaylortanner on October 13, 2007

Although the details in this book are nauseatingly graphic, I found great hope and peace in it. The trauma and abuse that was suffered by this woman is beyond any normal person's understanding- the mind simply cannot reach far enough into the depths of hell to fathom such torture. Seriously, it's th......more