Inside Karen’s Crowded Mind

NEWSWEEK

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: bass8up @ 10/22/2007 9:53:06 PM

    Read "The Way Back" by Donna Mae Hunt, a book written by the person with Multiple Personality Disorder, it took her over 20 years to write it ... Sincerly, Her Daughter-in-law

  • Posted By: teacherkim @ 10/22/2007 9:40:30 PM

    People mock what they do not understand. I believe Karen's story. It's fairly difficult to fool a respected psychiatrist who's most likely seen and heard it all. Victims of sustained abuse (especially children) either externally (lashing out through words, pictures, actions, if their anger is on the surface) or internally deal with what's happening because they are initially too embarassed or scared to ask for help. The mind is extremely versatile and creative and has the ability to protect us from even ourselves. By the time a child has grown up and matured to the point where he/she feels comfortable divulging past or present abuses, in many times, the mind has created its own solution that doesn't allow that to happen. We have similar cases in the alternative elementary school where I teach.

    • Posted By: Todd82TA @ 10/22/2007 9:52:28 PM

      I have no problem believing in this condition's validity. But to put some perspective on it, if in fact it WASN'T a real disorder... anyone who would spend 17 years in therapy WOULD have to have something wrong with them if they did it purely for attention. The bottom line however, is that she came to him depressed, and NOW she's leading a normal life. In this case, the end justified the means. Most of the people here are just arguing semantics which is kind of silly. At the very least, we can say that this is the best understanding we have of this condition. The human brain is amazingly complex, and the possibilities are literally endless, both positive and negative.

      I find the study of the human brain and psyche to be fascinating. I just watched a mini-series on ferrel children, totally blew my mind. Even if it was very sad, it was fascinating to learn how the human brain adapts to any situation. Now, if someone could just write about why people revert to their animal instincts when they go on cruise ships.

  • Posted By: heatherjo11 @ 10/22/2007 9:52:05 PM

    As psychologists, we must be skeptical, as any other scientist should be. However, we also need to keep an open mind to the wonders of the human mind and all the different ways it can protect itself; we must do this for our patients' sakes--so we are able to recognize this type of problem if and when it is truly presented before us.

  • Posted By: AngelinTn @ 10/22/2007 9:51:38 PM

    Enter Your Comment

  • Posted By: Liscaram3l @ 10/22/2007 9:50:41 PM

    Hi im 16 years old and I am doing a research project (for school) on MPD, but i need to talk to profesionals about this. I am completely fasinated with learning more about it and hoping that I can ashcedule an interview. If anyone knows where I can get this information please contact me through these comments or email me at lis-av91@hotmail.com Thank you =]

  • Posted By: heatherjo11 @ 10/22/2007 9:49:59 PM

    As a psychologist, we must be skeptical, as any other scientist should be. However, we also need to keep an open mind to the wonders of the human mind and all the different ways it can protect itself; we must do this for our patients' sakes--so we are able to recognize this type of problem if and when it is truly presented before us.

  • Posted By: Templar @ 10/22/2007 7:51:21 PM

    There is no doubt in my mind that this condition exists as I was married to a woman that survived through the vast majority of it. She was clear in relating this problem to me, and the years of therapy that she went through to rid herself of most of them. I say most, because she did warn me that she had recurrent flashbacks to a childhood more horrible than I hope any of you readers could possibly imagine. I was witness to some of these, and after a while could see them transform her when it happened, often for no apparent reason that I could discern. She eventually left me to go back to the country she was living in when we met, because she did not feel safe living in the U.S. again, where she was born and raised by the parents that committed these crimes, and who still lived here. I do not bear her any ill-will for the failed marriage, and understood that she had to live where she felt safe, and as far away from those monsters as possible.

    • Posted By: modsaint @ 10/22/2007 9:49:29 PM

      quite often the experts say that most abused children return to that environment......it must have been difficult for you

  • Posted By: blessed7 @ 10/22/2007 9:47:57 PM

    My heart goes out to this young lady her mother was a coward and also needed therapy I hope that "karen" is healed spiritually and emottionally enough to lead a healthy and normal (it there is such a thing life) You did a great job doctor I know you must have really cared about the patient and not only about the theories.

  • Posted By: earth2joy @ 10/22/2007 7:50:21 PM

    I'm an actress whose family does not approve of actors. I was labeled as having MPD among other things after a very successful run of the play Accomplice by Rupert Holmes. I played the leading role. It's a play within a play within a play. The result is four distinct characters per actor. My point here is that mental illness and the stigma they create can be used as a weapon in dysfunctional families where jealousy exists. Given the potential for slanderous use of these diseases, I wish psychiatrists would come up with a label for jealousy.

    • Posted By: modsaint @ 10/22/2007 9:47:50 PM

      perhaps you are borderline

  • Posted By: everlast1 @ 10/22/2007 9:47:46 PM

    It's just scary to know that on top of everythign that goes on in the world, now people have to be scared of themselves. Suffering from Bi-polar disorder, I had to be conveinced that something was wrong with me cause I couldn't see it. I though people were trying to put things into my head, and then i began to think back to times were I had so much energy I could have exploded and other times were I was so down, ants on the ground could step on me. I am glad there is help for mental patients and hope more help is to come.

  • Posted By: al_ime @ 10/22/2007 9:47:39 PM

    "Ugly lonely woman who wants attention"?? and SHE is *** up, talk about issues...

  • Posted By: everlast1 @ 10/22/2007 9:47:27 PM

    It's just scary to know that on top of everythign that goes on in the world, now people have to be scared of themselves. Suffering from Bi-polar disorder, I had to be conveinced that something was wrong with me cause I couldn't see it. I though people were trying to put things into my head, and then i began to think back to times were I had so much energy I could have exploded and other times were I was so down, ants on the ground could step on me. I am glad there is help for mental patients and hope more help is to come.

  • Posted By: sweir16 @ 10/22/2007 9:46:50 PM

    This disorder is now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder...not multiple personality disorder...for at least a few years now I think...

  • Posted By: everlast1 @ 10/22/2007 9:46:13 PM

    It's just scary to know that on top of everythign that goes on in the world, now people have to be scared of themselves. Suffering from Bi-polar disorder, I had to be conveinced that something was wrong with me cause I couldn't see it. I though people were trying to put things into my head, and then i began to think back to times were I had so much energy I could have exploded and other times were I was so down, ants on the ground could step on me. I am glad there is help for mental patients and hope more help is to come.

  • Posted By: tracee @ 10/22/2007 9:45:42 PM

    My heart goes out to this young lady her mother was a coward and also needed therapy I hope that "karen" is healed spiritually and emottionally enough to lead a healthy and normal (it there is such a thing life) You did a great job doctor I know you must have really cared about the patient and not only about the theories.

  • Posted By: rabbitts @ 10/22/2007 9:29:52 PM

    The Psychiatric association has known for a long time that mpd is a result of trauma or traumas a child or adolescent had to endure while growing up. Some way the person boy or girl had to develop other ways to cope with what they expeerienced and what they saw I am not a therapist but I do commend the work of therapist's and good pyschologist that realize the person coming to them for help is fragmented with many parts of their personality fragmented. I commend this Dr in realizing and most of all waiting for her alter ego to emerge.
    unknownreader

    • Posted By: Todd82TA @ 10/22/2007 9:37:40 PM

      I find this whole thing to be very interesting. Many people who have mental disorders, it's usually a trait or a "gene" if you will that was passed down to them. I've always wondered if this and other disorders can develop WITH or WITHOUT this kind of pre-disposition? Although, a parent would have to be insane to molest or harm their own child, I have to wonder if maybe it's possible to develop MPD because of the fact that there is a pre-disposition for mental illness?

  • Posted By: AngelinTn @ 10/22/2007 9:36:07 PM

    MPD...wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!

  • Posted By: lykewyze @ 10/22/2007 9:33:38 PM

    Blame the parents, the bullies and everyone who inflicts hurt in every little or big way, MENTALLY.

  • Posted By: teacherkim @ 10/22/2007 9:33:21 PM

    Please don't be so quick to judge. Victims of horrible and sustained abuse (especially children) HAVE to do something internally to cope with the atrocities which plague them day in and day out. They're often too scared or embarrassed initially to tell anyone, and by the time they might have grown mature enough to realize that they can indeed get help, they may be too ill psychologically to get that assistance. I see it many times with students in my classroom (sometimes close but not quite to the degree of Karen).

  • Posted By: hyperactivejenna @ 10/22/2007 9:32:50 PM

    Why are you people arguing about this. Do any of you have a Medical Degree? I think not. So why don't you leave the research and arguing to the professionals who have actually studied the mind and psychiatry/psychology. All that you are doing by arguing is convincing yourselves of some half-assed idea created in your head to understand MPD/DID. Seriously, do you really think you deserve to have an opinion on something you most likely know nothing about?

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse