One Stop Shopping for Depression
'One Stop Shopping' is a fairly new phenomenon. In the 50's when I was growing up in Toronto, the closest thing to 'one stop shopping' was 'Simpson's' and 'Eaton's' and you had to go downtown to shop there. Out in the suburbs where I lived there were grocery stores, hardware stores, drugstores, bakeries, florists etc. but no big department stores.
Then along came 'Canadian Tire'. This was and still is a big deal in Canada. At first they sold everything you needed for your car, then they expanded into other kinds of hardware for the home, the cottage etc. Now they even sell decorative things for the home and the list goes on.
I remember when 'Shoppers Drug Mart' first opened. To have such a big store to buy your medications and other drugstore kinds of stuff was quite the novelty in Canada at first. And they even sold other things, stationary, magazines, etc. You get the idea.
And what about the grocery stores? Do they just sell groceries? Not anymore! They too have decorative things for the home, some hardware items, and now even clothing.
What would a one stop shop for depression offer?
1.There would be a friend for you to talk to 24 hours a day. They would have a kettle to make you a nice hot drink and a few healthy snacks and a big box of Kleenex.
2. A doctor would be available 24/7 and he or she would be kind and understanding and a good listener.
3. A psychiatrist would be waiting to fine tune your diagnosis and make sure you are taking just the right meds.
4. A tiny little grocery department would carry only healthy foods, and not too many choices to overwhelm you.
5. Right next to that would be a diner where you could order a healthy meal. In the diner would be a little reading corner with just a few choice books about depression where you could read and enjoy your healthy dessert at the same time.
6.There would be a little park out back for you to get some fresh air and exercise.
7. Soft music would be playing in the background.
These are just a few ideas of what that a 'one stop depression shop' might look like.
Personally I find the bigger stores quite overwhelming. There are just too many choices. When I finally find the right department then I am faced with even more choices. What brand, what size, what price? Label reading has become such a big part of healthy shopping now and that can be draining when you are not feeling well.
Give me a cute little bakery, a small local drugstore, my corner hardware, fresh produce and that is enough retail to suit my limited tastes. Too much shopping overwhelms me.
Depression itself can be overwhelming. The idea of a 'one stop shop for depression' sounds efficient and easy but it really isn't.
Baby steps are better. Small local stores are better. Shop for one thing at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself any further by trying to solve all aspects of your depression at once.
One step at a time. But all of the steps count.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? How are you feeling today? Have you covered the steps? Do you need to get started? Or do you need to start all over again with a fresh perspective?
Don't give up! There is hope for depression.
