The Yellow Wallpaper is indeed a remarkable read, despite its shortness. It portrays the struggles of postpartum depression during the 19th century, a time when mental health was neither understood nor acknowledged. I am both glad and surprised that Ms. Gilman thoughtfully depicted postpartum struggles during her time, especially considering that, over 130 years later, many people remain unaware of them.

The protagonist’s experience is deeply isolating, her physician husband prescribes the infamous “rest cure,” confining her to a single room under the disguise of treatment. This enforced isolation, along with her inability to express herself, leads to her psychological breakdown.

The story serves as a symbolic representation of societal ignorance and the dismissal of women’s mental health. It’s a reminder that, historically, women’s emotions were often trivialised, their struggles silenced, and their freedom stripped away.

Alas, even in 2025, these issues persist. Mental health, especially surrounding pregnancy and motherhood, remains under-discussed and misunderstood. Conditions like postpartum and prenatal depression are frequently brushed off as “just hormones” or “normal feelings.” This ignorance leads to a lack of empathy and proper support.

I find this story deeply relatable as I navigate my postpartum days. For me, the prenatal period was even more challenging, both physically and mentally. I was overwhelmed by unfamiliar emotions that others often dismissed as silly or insignificant. Whether due to hormones or the sudden shift in my life, I felt helpless and always on edge. I am always grateful to my family, especially my mother, I have not fallen into depression while struggling with the onset of prenatal and postpartum blues. Books always have my back when I’m sad or depressed; like a friend in need, they’re always there for me.

Pregnancy has undoubtedly reshaped me, altering the very structure of my brain. I’m no longer the person I used to be. Much like the protagonist in The Yellow Wallpaper, I’ve struggled to find understanding and compassion in a world that still tends to overlook the complexities of women’s mental health.

For many, the unknown seems nonexistent, but stories like The Yellow Wallpaper remind us that these struggles are real and deserve to be acknowledged and addressed.