100-days: Five

Title: Feel better now ？ The rise and rise of the anxiety economy(焦虑经济)

　　rise and rise 一直上升　　

　　anxiety　n.焦虑，忧虑; 切望，渴望; 令人焦虑的事; 挂念

In 1988 a TV writer(编剧) called Alex Carswell threw a pen at a photo of his mother after a stressful phone call with his boss. It gave him an idea. It was the "Age of Stress(充满压力的年代)" and so the perfect time for Carswell to launch his "stress ball(压力球)".

　　 stressful　adj.有压力的

　　launch　v.发射；上市，推出　　to launch a missile　发射导弹

　　

If the 80s were the age of stress, this is the age of anxiety, with 30% of Britons(英国人) experiencing(经历) an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. This has created a market for domestic(家用的) anxiety cures that can be bought online, and fast.

　　disorder　n.(身体)失调；疾病；异常　　mental / eating disorder　

　　domestic　adj.家用的；国内的　　domestic service 家政服务　　domestic flight 国内航班

Consider the squishy(想想捏捏乐吧，口语化的举例方法). That repeated action led to fidget spinners(指尖陀螺) becoming one of the most populat items bought on Amazon(亚马逊) in 2017. They were not simply triangles of plastic; the were a stress-relief toy. They were the stars of a growing anxiety economy.

　　squishy　n.捏捏乐　　=>   是  squash  的不正式说法　

　　　　　a glass of orange squash (n.) 　一杯橙汁

　　fidget　n.(由于坐立不安而出现的) 小动作

　　spinner　n.旋转器　　spin　v.旋转

　　triangle　n.三角形物

　　stress-relief　adj.解压的　　relief　痛苦的减轻

Alongside(与…一起) products designed purely as medical aids(医疗辅助工具), such as meditation apps, there is a thriving offshoot(一个蓬勃发展的衍生品) of lifestyle goods marketed(v.营销) through(+营销手段) their anxiety-relieving qualities. Product innovation oriented around anxiety spans nearly 30 different categories, including chocolate, yogurt and air fresheners(空气清新剂).

　　alongside A  there is  B　　除了 A 还有 B

　　 medical　医学的，医疗的

　　aids　辅助工具

　　meditation　n.冥想

　　thriving　adj.茁壮成长的；兴旺发达的　　a thriving industry　一个繁荣的产业

　　offshoot　n.分支，衍生品　　　　off　prep.离开，脱离　　shoot　n.幼芽

　　orient　v.针对，围绕；以…为目标　　　　be oriented around sth. / sb.　　针对某事 / 某人

　　innovation　n.改革，创新; 新观念; 新发明; 新设施;

　　span　v.跨越，横跨

　　category　　n.类型，部门，种类，类别，类目; [逻，哲] 范畴; 体重等级

　　yogurt　n.酸奶，酸乳

Is anxiety itself being commodified ?

　　commodify　v.商品化　　commodity　n.

Dr Nihara Krause, founder of youth mental health charity Stem4, said, "The market seems saturated. There are a number of companies that are trading on fake news to promote(推销) a whole range of products that are meant to help with mental health problems but without any evidence base(事实依据) to them. Given(prep.考虑到…情况 + 名词/that从句) that we are dealing with a vulnerable population(指人的某个特殊群体) it is questionable how ethical producing these tools without evidence base and systematic review(系统性的评估) of efficacy is."

　　founder　n.创始人; 建立者; 翻砂工; 蹄叶炎;

　　mental　adj.内心的，精神的，思想的，心理的；智慧的，智[脑]力的；<口>精神病的，意志薄弱的，愚笨的　　n.精神病患者

　　charity　n.慈善（行为）; 施舍，捐助; 慈善机关; 仁爱，宽容;

　　saturated　adj. 湿透的；浸透的　　completely wet　　　　同义词　=>　soaked

　　trade on sth　（为谋私利）利用

　　fake　adj.假的，伪造的　　n.赝品，假货　　

　　　　eg.  The painting is a fake　这幅画是赝品

　　a whole range of sth　　一系列的…

　　be meant to do sth　理因要做什么事

　　vulnerable　adj.易受伤的；脆弱的

　　it is questionable weather…　　什么值得怀疑

　　ethical　adj.伦理的，道德的　　　　ethical standard / appeal　道德标准 / 伦理诉求

　　efficacy　n.疗效；功效　　the efficacy of the treatment　某种疗法的疗效