Yesterday, Otago Girls’ High School year 12 student Jeantine Dixon, 16, stood in front of a panel of the city’s business leaders and pitched her anxiety relief spray, marketed as Refined Thoughts, through the Young Entrepreneurs programme.
The idea for the spray came after Jeantine began experiencing anxiety attacks after her father Jayren Dixon died of cancer two years ago.
‘‘After my dad passed away, I struggled with anxiety really bad — I had really bad panic attacks. Anxiety became a constant part of my life and grief left me hyper-aware of every body sensation.’’
She said she now took medication to help with her condition, but had always had an interest in holistic medicine.
She decided taking a sensory approach to treating anxiety could really help people like her.
The spray had a sour tinge, which research had shown distracted the mind.
‘‘It’s scientifically proven that when you have a sour taste in your tongue, you kind of go, ‘oh, that’s sour’, and it can take you away from what you’re overthinking in that moment.’’
‘‘The vision is to become a leading wellness brand that changes how people manage anxiety through products and conversation.’’
Jeantine said she had help from naturopath Skye Macfarlane, of Wild Dispensary, to create the spray.
The spray contained camomile and lemon balm.
She hoped to sell Refined Thoughts at the Otago Farmers Market within a few weeks.
Until then, pre-sales were live, a website was in the works and the product would be ready ‘‘very soon’’.
