PSYCHOANALYSIS OF POSTPARTUM IN THE YELLOW WALLPAPER AND BREAKING POINT

Abstract

Postpartum is one of the psychological behaviours of women that occurs soon after giving birth. It is also known as “baby blues”.  It is a rare but serious mental health illness and bipolar disorder that can affect a woman soon after she has a baby. The symptoms of postpartum are high mood and racing thoughts, depression, severe confusion , loss of inhibition, paranoia, hallucination and delusions, lacking energy, having a loss of appetite, anxiety or trouble sleeping, loss of inhibitions, feeling suspicious or fearful, restlessness, confused, behaving in a way that is out of character which should be treated as a medical emergency. This psychological issue occurs as a result of societal and patriarchal condition towards the women. This kind of behaviour is mentioned in literature by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in her work, “The Yellow Wallpaper” and a real case is written by Suzy Spencer in her work, “Breaking Point”.

Keywords

psychoanalysis, postpartum, maternity blue, baby blues, postnatal psychosis, yellow wallpaper, andrea yates, breaking point.

Works Cited

Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. The Yellow Wallpaper. Wisehouse Classics, 2016.

Gale, Cengage Learning. A Study Guide for Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s

“Herland” p. 5, Introduction. ISBN 9781410348029, 2016

Knight, Denise D. The Diaries of Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Vol. I, pp. 323–385.

Lewis, Jone Johnson. Charlotte Perkins Gilman Quotes. thoughtco.com, 2017

Perkins Gilman, Charlotte. Women and Economics. Boston, Maynard & Co, 1898.

To cite this article

Alisha Kumari. (2019). Psychoanalysis of Postpartum in the Yellow Wallpaper and Breaking Point. Sparkling International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Studies, 2(3), 15-22.