" (171) It sould also be noted that any time a person uses the words "commit suicide" and "destroy themselves" in their journal it is cause for a psychologist to take note. .
Reading further we come to the cause of the depression, "Such a dear baby! And yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous." Postpartum depression sometimes takes place in women after they give birth. It is characterized by symptoms that range from mild to intense suicidal depressive psychosis. Though the cause is unproven neurochemical and pre-existing psychological conditions have been implicated. For example if the main character was already dealing with a mild form of schizophrenia, the dissociation she would feel from others, particualarly her child, could trigger the depressive episode. .
At the point in the text where we find out she has a child we are only mildly aware of her depression. According to the DSM IV depression is characterised by depressed mood, feelings of worthlessness, of guilt, loss of interest, pessimism, sleep problems, diminished ability to think or concentrate, and weight loss or gain. Thought the story the main character exhibits each of the symptoms at least once. She often feels tired or exhaused when trying to write. Later she has difficulty concentrating and looses intrest in her writing, " I don't know why I should write this. I don't want to. I don't feel able" (174) John recommened that she sleep as much as she can but she often finds herself staring at the wall paper instead.
Our evidence of her dpression becomes interspersed with the begginings of her obssesions about the wall paper, and ultimately her full blown schizophreia. In her discussions about her sleeping habbits she reveals to the reader that in te moonlight while she is supposed to be asleep she sees te woman behind the paper. This is the first time that we realize perhaps there is something other than depression wrong with the main character.