The Symptoms Of Hysteria In The Yellow Wallpaper

The Right Place for The Wrong Diagnosis
During the Victorian era, Hysteria was a common issue. According to Western University, “Hysteria is characterized by nervous, eccentric, and erratic behavior.” Which, if a woman expressed these signs, would be treated in an asylum, also known as, a psychiatric hospital. As shown, by evidence within the text and through research found within articles and books, the woman in “The Yellow Wallpaper” did not present any sort of symptoms relating to Hysteria, but she did have very similar symptoms aligned with severe post-partum depression. Now, even though the woman from “The Yellow Wallpaper” does not have Hysteria, she is receiving treatment in a psychiatric hospital within the story. Overall, in the short
It is seen within the beginning of the story that the woman had a baby, by the statements she gives about the child, making this a strong fit for post-partum depression. Now, as stated by The Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, “About one in every 5 women will develop depression during the first few months postpartum that may be mild, moderate, or severe.” Postpartum depression mothers can contain many symptoms, such as thinking the baby might be better off without them, having a loss of appetite, feeling like they are not normal or not themselves lately, not being able to concentrate, feeling all alone, and even more (719). In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the woman starts out with moderate to severe symptoms, which increasingly lead up to even more severe ones. Such symptoms are shown in the text, like the woman explaining, "I don't weigh a bit more, nor as much; and my appetite may be better in the evening when you are here, but it is worse in the morning when you are away"(Gilman 83). This statement illustrates the loss of appetite symptom that many postpartum depression patients encounter, especially severe patients. Another symptom that shows up, is thinking the baby might be better off without her. This is displayed when she states that, “It is fortunate Mary is so good with the baby. Such a dear baby! And yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous” (Gilman 78).
The woman in the short story justifiably believed her treatment was not right when she stated, “Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good…. I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus…” (76). The woman was right in doubting her treatment, because, according to Tillman, Taylor stated – during this time period – that mentally ill patients went through “poorly kept facilities with minimally trained attendants” (134). Therefore, her physician himself was most likely incapable of diagnosing her correctly, nonetheless, treating her correctly either. One thing Taylor also describes is the failure in the system of psychiatric hospitals, explaining that, “Dependency is thought to be the enemy of recovery in this system, which devalues human relationships, social connections, and the fact that treatment takes time” (Tillman 136). As it was illustrated in the short story – in the evidence above – when the woman complained about needing more society and stimulus, it had been revealed that she was not receiving this type of treatment that she needed. By the way the woman had described her day to day activities, she was completely being