From the beginning the narrator makes it clear that it is difficult for her to come to terms with her condition. At one point, she remembers what John advises her not to do: "John says the worst thing to do is to think about my condition, and I confess it always makes me feel bad" (470). Here we see that she is not given the freedom she needs to cope with what would suppress her anxieties. Rather, she is ordered to lie down all day and do nothing but rest, which ultimately drives depressed people crazy. Instead, she states: “Personally, I believe that a congenial job, with enthusiasm and change, would do me good” (470). This is in fact what she needs to help her cope with her anxiety. Instead, he keeps a personal diary