Switching Time: A Doctor's Harrowing Story of Treating a Woman with 17 Personalities [Audiobook, CD, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Richard Baer (Author), Lloyd James (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2007

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lloyd James delivers a powerful, honest and compassionate reading of Dr. Baer's emotional experiences treating a highly unstable woman with 17 different personalities. Told from Baer's perspective, the gripping accounts are brought to life in a remarkably understated reading by James that showcases his inherent performance ability. With a soft, almost unnoticeable change in tone, James perfectly captures patient Karen Overhill's loneliness and heartache. His voice is firm and unwavering, creating a poignant experience for the listeners, who will immediately find themselves entrenched in the powerful story. The story could easily have been overdone in narration, with the abundance of personas that enter the picture; however, James remains true to Baer's written word, underplaying the roles and letting the story speak for itself. An incredibly personal account that will have listeners feeling like a fly on the wall inside Baer's office.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"An important and insightful look into the world of a multiple."
--Cameron West, bestselling author of FIRST PERSON PLURAL

“This is Dr. Baer’s incredibly moving and inspiring account of how his patient, Karen, drove herself to heal psychic wounds that surely would have devastated someone less resolute. Particularly fascinating is how Baer, despite frequently feeling overwhelmed, guided Karen to a place where she could risk knowing — and exploring — the horrors lurking in her elaborate inner world.  Throughout the book, one marvels at this caring therapist and his immense honesty, courage and commitment.”
--Dena Rosenbloom, Ph.D., co-author of LIFE AFTER TRAUMA

“SWITCHING TIME takes the reader on an absorbing journey through a psychiatrist’s dauntingly challenging first case of multiple personality disorder -- from the beginning of therapy to stable integration and recovery. Vivid...loaded with fascinating details...a richly rewarding read."
-- Colin Ross, author of MULTIPLE PERSONALITY ORDER and THE OSIRIS COMPLEX


From the Hardcover edition. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Tantor Media; Unabridged edition (October 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400104750
• ISBN-13: 978-1400104758
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #490,885 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly compelling, October 12, 2007

By 

Lala's mama (El Dorado Hills, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Switching Time: A Doctor's Harrowing Story of Treating a Woman with 17 Personalities (Hardcover)

After catching the last 10 minutes of Dr. Baer's interview on NPR's Talk of the Nation, I had to hear more, so I listened to the entire interview online. I surfed over to Amazon as I was listening and bought the book immediately. I began reading the book as soon as it arrived in the mail, and absolutely could not put it down, only stopping to sleep after I just couldn't keep my eyes pried open any longer. It is by turns a horrific tale of abuse, a fascinating examination of the human psyche, and a doctor who cared enough about another human being to help regardless of the time or cost.

As a mother of small children, it was particuarly difficult to read about Karen's abuse, but it was never presented in an exploitative manner. As much as I would like to think otherwise, child abuse of this nature continues, and I hope that this story helps others suffering as Karen did. It has opened my eyes to the clues that children give us when they need help.

It was also interesting to hear the doctor's point of view, as I've often wondered what goes on in a therapist's mind...Thank you, Karen and Dr. Baer, for sharing this incredible story.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Incredible Journey, October 7, 2007

By 

A Gynecologist (Chicago,IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Switching Time: A Doctor's Harrowing Story of Treating a Woman with 17 Personalities (Hardcover)

I was skeptical that such a thng as multiple personality disorder even existed. After reading Switching Time, I am not only convinced, but am in awe of the complexity of the human ability to cope with horrific abuse. This is a beautifully written journey: but not just the journey of Karen, the woman with 17 personalities, but of the Psychiatrist who diagnosed it, and ultimately reintegrated her into one functional being. This is a stunning , must- read book.Every word of it is true, but it reads like a novel. Don't start it unless you have time to keep going. I guarantee you won't want to put it down.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Facinating & Horrifying, October 5, 2007

By 

B. Hart "The Head" (Olympus Mons, Mars) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Switching Time: A Doctor's Harrowing Story of Treating a Woman with 17 Personalities (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my wife who usually likes reading about such subjects, but I will admit that the publisher's summary did intrest me enough to read the first chapter. After that I was hooked, and had to force myself to put it down to get enough sleep for work the next day.

I thought that knowing that she has 17 personalities would ruin any suspense of the story, but I was mistakened. Learning how they function, and how and when they were "born" was facinating. Not being schooled in psychology, I have only a layman's understanding of this disorder, and I was blown away to learn how the 'aters' interacted within Karen's subconscience and what purposes they served when they revealed themselves.

The horror that Karen suffered which brought on the personalities was equally as facinating as it was sad. I guess on a certail level I knew that the things described in this book can and do happen, but to read about them happening and especially happening to a young girl, made me cringe.

This story in this book is strong enough to appeal to anyone and the detail of the disorder is well written enough to keep someone with a PhD in psychology entranced. I have never read a story like it. If you are at all interested in this book after reading the publisher's tag, then you will not be disappointed.

I wish there were more stars, I don't think 5 is enough.