In “The Yellow Wallpaper” the speaker is incorrectly diagnosed with ‘nervousness’, however, what the speaker actually suffers from is depression with psychosis, more commonly known as psychotic depression, and given terrible treatment in regards to the disease. One can tell that the speaker actually suffers from psychotic depression based on her various symptoms, including the obvious depression, paranoia, and her ‘visions’. This raises the questions, based on that diagnosis, how should she have been treated given the resources at the time versus what treatment she would be given now.

In the story, the speaker speaks shapes coming to fruition in the wallpaper. She begins to see visions of women creeping around behind the pattern in the wallpaper (Gilman 305). It is at this point that the reader realizes there must be something more than simple nervousness and based on the speaker’s symptoms, it is abundantly clear that the speaker suffers from psychotic depression and is incorrectly treated. In the story the speaker’s illness is treated with extreme caution and she is told quite often simply to rest and that she is trying to do too much (Gilman 301). However, as one can see from the first article, the disease has to be treated with actual medication, including antidepressants and antipsychotics. As the first article very clearly states, she should have been given treatment, especially medication, then monitored closely instead of left alone and told to rest (Pellegrino 11). However, what they should not do, is exactly what the speaker’s husband and brother, both prestigious doctors, tell her to do (Gilman 300). Would one not think that they, both being doctors with numerous accolades, would know better? Absolutely they should know that the speaker suffers from more than simple nervousness and mild depression. However, in the story, the speaker seems unwilling to share how she really feels with her husband for fear he would scorn her emotions (Gilman 306). Perhaps this is why he could not better diagnose nor treat her. Whatever the case may be, it is openly clear, based on the article, that what should have been done, medication and a watchful eye, was not done (Pellegrino 11).

The first article I read, in conjunction with the reading, “The Yellow Wallpaper”, was entitled “A Question of Balance: Preventing Relapse of Psychotic Depression.” It speaks of the ins and outs of psychotic depression. The article starts by referencing a specific case in which a man with severe depression, including suicidal thoughts or actions, is admitted to a psychiatric unit and begins treatment. It gives his symptoms and then list the medicines he was put on. It is at this point that the article dives deeper into the realm of psychotic depression. It begins to speak of the high death rates and, simply, the seriousness of the disease. Then the article begins to speak of the usual treatment of psychotic depression, which is a combination of antidepressants and antipsychotics, as one would surmise. The article speaks of the harmful side effects one could gain from overuse of the medicines but also of the harm the could happen if one were to come off of these medicines too soon, thus reinforcing the seriousness of the issue. The article speaks of the possibility of relapse; however, it is after this that in delves into the issue of current ongoing research. In reality, the answer to treatment is this, the best way to go about treating psychotic depression is, as was aforementioned, the use of antidepressants and antipsychotics. However, each and every case of this disease is very different and must be monitored closely. Every person reacts differently to the disease and different to the medicines given for the disease (Pellegrino).

The second article I read, in conjuncture with “The Yellow Wallpaper”, is entitled Historical Perspectives on the Care and Treatment of the Mentally Ill. The article discusses the progression of care of the mentally ill and the changing of mental health institutions in that time. It starts by talking about the first mental health institution, then discusses how more started to pop up. It brings up how activists like Dorthea Dix fought to improve sanitation and conditions in these institutions. The article speaks of everything from the moral movement to the mental hygiene movement (Kurtz).

After reading these articles it becomes painstakingly clear that there were much better things to do with a mentally ill patient than have them lay around all the time. As shown in the second article, there were mental institutions that the patient could have been admitted to (Kurtz 78). There are many stereotypes about mental health institutions of this time. However, as one can see from the second article, they were not all disgusting scary places. Thanks to Dorthea Dix, mental hygiene was beginning to take root and hospitals were beginning to come around (Kurtz 79). One of the main stereotypes of mental health institutions of the time are that they all treated humans like animals. However, as one can see from the second article, there was a movement called “Moral Treatment” in which caretakers treated patients with the respect that they deserved (Kurtz 78). All of this leads to the same point; the speaker should have been admitted to an institution rather than simply mildly looked after in the house.

In conclusion, the history and the facts show us how the speaker should be treated, both in today’s society and in the time period in which this story was written. The story tells us how insecure and alone mistreated victims feel when they are mistreated and how it can deeply affect their psyche. The lack of understanding of proper treatment is what caused this disease to turn from bad to worse. It may have been brought on by maternal deprivation or even possibly a brain tumor. However, in either case, or in any case, the treatment the speaker received did absolutely nothing to help. On the contrary, it caused the speaker to sink further into her closing depression and become more psychotic as the story wore on. If she had simply been admitted to a mental health institution rather than simply being laid in bed all day, perhaps she would have gotten better. But It is perhaps because of her husband’s and of her brother’s pride that they simply did not look into different treatment, or, in fact, better treatment. They were so caught up in what they were sure was right that they never stopped to consider what might actually be best for the patient. Nor did they ever stop to see how she was actually feeling because they created such a scornful environment that the speaker felt scared of being laughed at that she felt she could not confide in her husband nor her brother her true feelings, relating to her true condition. All of this boils down to one thing, and that is that the speaker in the story, diagnosed with simple ‘nervousness’ and ‘feminine fancies’ actually had a very serious condition known as psychotic depression and was treated absolutely terrible with regards to that illness.
