Experiencing repeated panic and anxiety attacks after her father\u2019s death prompted a Dunedin secondary student to make an anxiety relief spray.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Otago Girls\u2019 High School year 12 student Jeantine Dixon, 16, stood in front of a panel of the city\u2019s business leaders and pitched her anxiety relief spray, marketed as Refined Thoughts, through the Young Entrepreneurs programme.<\/p>\n
The idea for the spray came after Jeantine began experiencing anxiety attacks after her father Jayren Dixon died of cancer two years ago.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018After my dad passed away, I struggled with anxiety really bad \u2014 I had really bad panic attacks. Anxiety became a constant part of my life and grief left me hyper-aware of every body sensation.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
She said she now took medication to help with her condition, but had always had an interest in holistic medicine.<\/p>\n
She decided taking a sensory approach to treating anxiety could really help people like her.<\/p>\n
The spray had a sour tinge, which research had shown distracted the mind.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018It\u2019s scientifically proven that when you have a sour taste in your tongue, you kind of go, \u2018oh, that\u2019s sour\u2019, and it can take you away from what you\u2019re overthinking in that moment.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
She realised some people did not only need immediate relief, but something that grounded them and brought them back to reality, she said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018The vision is to become a leading wellness brand that changes how people manage anxiety through products and conversation.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Jeantine said she had help from naturopath Skye Macfarlane, of Wild Dispensary, to create the spray.<\/p>\n
The spray contained camomile and lemon balm.<\/p>\n
She hoped to sell Refined Thoughts at the Otago Farmers Market within a few weeks.<\/p>\n
Until then, pre-sales were live, a website was in the works and the product would be ready \u2018\u2018very soon\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n