Sentence:  And, reader, the further you take this analogy the more beautifully it works: my anxiety disorder thrives on irrational <WSD>scaremongery</WSD> and paranoia, it often demands booze (but should not be given alcohol because it only makes it worse) and just when you think you have got rid of it for good, it pops up again. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Alarming information that is exaggerated or untrue.