Fear is big business.
On the one hand, you have an entire industry devoted to creating fear. We call them “news channels”.
On the other hand, there are multiple industries built around relieving fear, such as entertainment, pharma, counselling, psychology and psychiatry.
For decades, the prevailing philosophy has been, “Why create small problems if you can create a nuclear holocaust?” Worrying about Big Things You Cannot Change became fashionable. We call them “causes”. Thus worrying was elevated to a sign of moral superiority.
The recent spat between Israel and Iran is one such case in point, but only a few months earlier, it was India and Pakistan spitting at each other. And let’s not forget Russia, with a trigger-happy president, or North Korea, with an even more trigger-happy Dictator For Life. It is hard not to feel anxious if the world is mostly governed by oversized school bullies.
Nothing gives the news channels greater pleasure than to inform you of the latest “nuclear-tipped” quarrel.
In the absence of such squabbles, there are plenty of other news stories to drive the population into hysterics. If a weird virus doesn’t cut it, how about a meteorite? Or the sky (or the Rand) falling on our heads? Or the GNU being turned into biltong? Or a weird virus spread by a meteorite while the sky is falling on our GNU?
If all the worrying makes you sick, Big Pharma welcomes your anxious little soul into its overwheling and stifling embrace. The class of drugs used to treat anxiety are sometimes called tranquilisers, or also known as anxiolytics (“anxiety dissolvers”).
The question arises, “If our solutions are so good, why are our problems so bad?”
Now THAT is a good question.
Last year, one in eight Americans used an anxiolytic drug at least once (Link). One wonders why the mightiest nation on earth produces the highest level of worried people. These anxious Americans spent nearly $ 12 billion on therapy to relieve their anxiety – and the market just keeps growing. That averages out to about $500 per worried Merrykin, or R10,000 in real money. This figure excludes alcohol sales.
To put that number into perspective, it is one tenth of South Africa’s 2025 budget. Yes, fear is big business.
Clearly our solutions are not working (but are making some folks filthy rich).
It turns out that the very drugs designed to relieve anxiety also induce anxiety. Read that again slowly. Tranquilisers and anxiolytics have anxiety as a major side effect. This is what is known as a “Great Business Model”. It is the most popular tactic used by drug pushers worldwide to get new customers.
“The first fix is (almost) free.”
Not only will they pay for the second fix, but they will demand more and more of it, and pay more and more for it. They will beat a path to your door and break down your door to get more of it.
How do you break the cycle?
The most obvious solution is also the hardest: Turn off the telly – and other news channels.
Huh?
When you actually find the guts to do just that, you soon find that News Addiction Disorder is terrifyingly real. Most people would rather give up their Most Significant Other than their news channel.
In other words, drugs like the benzo’s and the zombie-clones are simply adding one addiction on top of another. Some folks add alcohol on top of that, or other substances. Call it the Pyramid of Fear.
Hint: That’s YOU at the bottom.
Is there a way to stop the slide?
We’re glad you asked.
It so happens that there are many non-addictive ways to break the endless cycle of addiction and fear. Don’t expect to see any of these popping up in your news feed. Au contraire.
Here we list just a few healthy ways to help you walk away from your News Addiction Disorder. Some of these, like Brain-Mag and Vitamin B1, are nutrients your brain needs anyhow. Others, like Kanna or LDN are useful for a while until you are strong enough to go it alone.
Brain-Mag
Magnesium in the brain is key to producing GABA, the anti-anxiety messenger boy in the brain. Brain-Mag provides the only form of magnesium known to enter the brain easily.
Dosage is 1-4 capsules daily, depending on severity of symptoms.
Vitamin B1
Thiamine / Vitamin B1 is crucial for most reactions in the brain and we just don’t get enough of it in our diets. By topping up B1 in your brain, you’re taking the edge off panic and anxiety.
Dosage: 1-5 x 100 mg tablets daily, depending on severity of symptoms
Kanna (Sceletium)
This little succulent from the Klein Karoo is a potent reliever of anxiety. It works within minutes, which means you don’t have to take it continuously. You can use it as a “rescue remedy” for when panic or anxiety strikes. It does not affect cognition, meaning you can take it before an exam or job interview and remain both calm and collected at the same time.
Dosage: 1-3 capsules per day, as needed
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
This is especially useful in breaking addictive patterns of any kind. It boosts endorphin production. Endorphins are the brain’s real happy hormone (forget what they told you about serotonin).
Dosage: 1-3 sprays / 24 hours, depending on severity of symptoms
Elexoma Medic
This Swiss device relieves anxiety almost instantly by increasing the amount of energy available to the brain. It puts the brain into a contented, meditative state, paving the way for clear, uncluttered thinking. It is a great productivity tool used by many South African athletes, entrepreneurs and business owners to stay ahead of the pack.
There you have five brain-healthy, non-addictive stress busters for when fear paralyses you.
If turning off the news channels seems too hard, phase it out one channel at a time. Replace the time spent on news channels with time spent on real people, face to face. You will suddenly have an hour a day more to get things done.
And you won’t have to pay your TV license (or decoder connection).
Jump off social media channels that waste your time or make you feel worried or insignificant.
Invest in real people instead.
Want to watch a sport event? Do it at a friend’s house (remember to bring snacks).
There are a few channels that add real value. They’re the ones that calm your fears and encourage real-world action. The rest are not worth your attention.
Here’s what some of our customers had to say about Kanna:
“Another one of our faves! I call it our cheerfulness pill! fabulous to keep one buoyant!”
“I absolutely love this product. It keeps me calm without being drowsy and at the same time makes my brain alert. Very beneficial if you need to perform but at the same time stay in control and calm.”
“Excellent calming effect on my 12yr old Toypom. Give it 2 – 3 hours before vet visit or before I bath and groom her. Also give it to her when the first thunder strikes.”
Click on the button below to get started!
To your (fear-free) health!
The Team at Integrow Health
PS If you want to know more about the Elexoma Medic, you can also click here.
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