Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) checked himself into Walter Reed Army Medical Center Wednesday night to receive voluntary inpatient treatment for clinical depression, his office announced Thursday.

Inbox: John Fetterman's office says he checked himself into Walter Reed hospital last night to receive treatment for clinical depression.

— Jonathan Tamari (@JonathanTamari) February 16, 2023

According to a statement from Fetterman’s office, he was evaluated by the Attending Physician of the US Congress, who recommended inpatient care at Walter Reed.

“While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks.”

Depression is common in stroke survivors, who are emotionally dealing with new physical and mental limitations they didn’t have previously while also undertaking various therapeutic modalities to regain as much functionality as they can. Post-stroke depression can also be caused by stroke-induced chemical changes in the brain.

Fetterman chief of staff Adam Jentleson:

"After examining John, the doctors at Walter Reed told us that John is getting the care he needs, and will soon be back to himself.” pic.twitter.com/G2kWNHPd5o

— Jonathan Tamari (@JonathanTamari) February 16, 2023

Fetterman was hospitalized for a couple of days last week after feeling dizzy during a Democrat Senate retreat, but testing ruled out any further strokes. In video of Fetterman taken during the State of the Union address, he certainly didn’t look happy. Undoubtedly, it’s difficult for Fetterman to function as he’d like to or as he should as a member of the US Senate, something that was pointed out loudly during the election and ignored by Fetterman’s wife, who likely heavily pressured him to remain in the race.

What was done to John Fetterman can most charitably be described as great bodily harm upon a disabled person resulting from a scheme to defraud. May he get the chance to have a full recovery. 🙏🏻 https://t.co/zJezCmCIEC

— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) February 16, 2023

Personally, I’ve watched a man (my father) who’s been disabled by a stroke be repeatedly demeaned by a wife who didn’t understand his new limitations and placed unreasonable demands on him physically or mentally, and it’s heartbreaking to watch. All politics aside, no human being should be treated like that, and I wish Fetterman the best in his recovery.