After reading "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gillman I came to think that the narrator does not suffer from hysteria. I came to this idea by comparing the research I did on hysteria with its symptoms in the story. In this article I will discuss why I believe the narrator is not suffering from hysteria but may be suffering from postpartum depression. “The Yellow Wallpaper” was written in the late 19th century. At the time, hysteria was thought to result from irregular blood flow from the uterus to the brain. Over the years the definition of hysteria has changed. Today hysteria can be defined as "a state of mind, unmanageable fear or emotional excesses" ("biography of hysteria"). From the research I have done it seems that the person's fear is usually centered on a certain part of the body even if there is nothing wrong with it, "a patient experiences physical symptoms that have a psychological, rather than organic, cause"( " Hysteria"). The story provides some evidence of his hysterical behavior. For example, at the beginning of the story she tells us that she is sick but her husband, John, who is a doctor, doesn't believe there is anything wrong with her: "See, he doesn't think I'm sick!" (Gilman 103). Although the narrator displays these symptoms of hysteria, her overall symptoms lead me to think that she may be suffering from postpartum depression. Before I explain why I think the narrator suffers from postpartum depression, I would like to discuss what it is. Postpartum depression is “a complex mix of physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that occur in a mother after giving birth” (“WebMD”). The causes of this disease can be hereditary and can be changes in most female hormones. Most mothers who suffer from postpartum depression love their children but feel that they will not be good at being a mother. (HealthyMinds.org). An example of this in the story is when the narrator discusses what little he can do and says, "It is fortunate that Mary is so good to the child. Such a dear child! Yet I cannot be with him, he makes me so nervous. " (Gillman 105) We see from this quote that the narrator doubts her ability to care for her baby. Most of the symptoms that accompany postpartum depression can be seen in the narrator throughout this story.