Sweet, Sweet Misery (Aspartame & Anxiety)

Personally, this is a sensitive topic so I'm going to jump right into it, but before we plunge here's my headline:

Our anxiety, depression or alike symptoms, in some cases may not only be caused by our surrounding, as a matter of fact right next to attitude, diet affects our mood most primarily.

A brief description of what is aspartame - The Silent Killer

Based on top publishers, aspartame was found in 1967 by a Chemist named by James Schlatter, while simply testing, created this combination by "error". In 1977 a report by Bressler showing multiple tests that were conducted on animals, and in addition to this over 900 scientific studies all show that aspartame was linked a huge list of tragic side effects, including brain cancer, Alzheimer and even death. The substance was deemed unsafe by the FDA in 1980, yet somehow in 1983 the food additive, aka calorie-free sweetener was finally approved, and now is found in a massive of food selection. That's over 30 years ago!

Aspartame is a highly toxic substance when combined in this form and ingested by humans. According to an article written by Marco Torres, the chemical-like substance is easily absorbed by our skin membrane, meaning as soon as we take a sip or take that bite it is immediately absorbed in the mouth and straight through to our blood-brain barrier. What that means is these substances go straight to the brain and interferes with neurotransmitters. Talk about a headache, but this ain't no simple headache...

The three components are two amino acids Aspartic acide and Phenylalanine (normally found in the brain), and an alcohol called Methanol, which is naturally found in some food, yet when accompanied by pectin (in its natural state) it is completely harmless to human's health. Essentially, without getting into the gritty scientific details, when these substances are introduced to first the human body and then the brain, our neurotransmitters get "highly excited" which then leads cells to self-destruct by being overly stimulated, resulting to, yes, dead neural cells. If neurotransmitters are what communicate everything to our body, then think about the consequences of losing brain cells prematurely? The fact is that the results are terrifying, and mind as well leave the rest to our imagination. Tricking us in believing that we're absorbing "amino acids" doesn't seem to work for a lot of people, nor does it make sense, based on years on scientific research.

For a more profound explanation on the effect of aspartame there is an easy to understand article by PreventDisease.com, or simply Google or YouTube the effect of Aspartame, and simply see for yourself. I've been hearing plenty of debates from both parties, however conducted research have shown enough proof over decades, rather than just a statement, in other words I'd prefer listenning to my gut feeling, at this point.

It landed with multiple names such as the "Silent Killer", "Slow Killer", "Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World", "The Bitter Truth", and the most recent one the "AminoSweet" to mention a few. My thoughts on that is why does it require a name in the first place? It doesn't matter how you call it. Mind as well just keep it as the "Calorie-free sugar", bottom line it won't make it any safer for humans to ingest, nor will it rectify why it was approved as safe in the first place. I don't personally think we care for the why, I mean that it's for money or power over population, it's more a matter of understanding the substance for then opt towards making a wiser choice, or allow me to add a life or death choice.

Although the FDA and Health Canada allows aspartame and other similar artificial chemicals to be added to our foods, I personally strongly recommend that we watch for them to ensure they're not listed on the packaging of the foods we buy. The artificial sweeteners (food additive) that should be avoided are Acesulfame K  (Acesulfame Potassium), Saccharin, Sucralose, Neotame and then Aspartame ranking first place for hidden poisonous substances. However in 2002 Neotame came along and doesn't seem too too far back.

What does aspartame (food additives) have to do with anxiety or depression?

We may not always be able to associate our symptoms with a couple of packets of sugar we added to our coffee this morning, yet if a simple headache suddenly presents itself what do we do? We blame stress? Work or family issues? I was born having migraines? Lack of sleep? Dizziness, vision problem, irritability, insomnia, anxiety or even depression are very common side effects of long term use of aspartame (accumulated deposits). Not only it's toxic to our liver but it also destroys our precious brain cells, which we all know that without a proper function of the brain, we are pretty nothing, walking zombies. This is very serious stuff!

Here's how I personally experienced side effects of aspartame when I was first introduced to it roughly about 8 years ago:

I liked the idea of a sugar-free alternative, considering I was highly into nutrition, this seemed like a perfect fit, yet the universe didn't allow it for me for very long. I'd started alternating from color packets for my morning coffee instead of regular refined sugar. At first I hated the taste but eventually learned to accept it due to it's lack in calories. One morning out on the blue I got a headache (and I never get headaches), just around mid cup, and headache persisted each day. I also recall feeling weird, or just plain "not ok" and for no apparent reason, dizzy, low of energy and felt depressed. In my early twenties I had already established a pretty strict diet so there was really nothing else I could blame my headaches on. It wasn't too long after I made the link, immediately stopped using it, and began researching on the subject. Surprisingly enough my headaches stopped from coming back. I'd would freak out when my friends and family would use the colored sugars. I remember giving to friends and family "safe sugar lessons" as soon as I'd see one reach for the bad stuff. Yet I don't think no one really took me seriously. I can still taste that chimerical tingling feeling on my tongue when I think of it. Never touched it since.

Here are some of the not-so-softer side effects of frequent or long term intake of aspartame:

Abdominal pain Abnormal vision Aggression Anxiety Blindness Buzzing in ear Confusion Depression Diarrhea Dizziness or unsteadiness Drowsiness Excessive thirst Facial pain Fluid retention Headaches

Hearing impairment Heart palpitations  High blood pressure Hives Hyperactivity Insomnia Irritability Itching Joint pain Lack of focus Leg swelling Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) Memory loss Migraines Nausea

Pain in eyes Panic attacks Personality changes Phobias Respiratory allergies (such as Asthma) Shortness of breath Seizure Sleepiness Sleeplessness Slurring of speech Suicidal thoughts Susceptibility to infection Tremors Water retention Weight gain

During my research, it was mentioned on a few occasions that they are close to 50 side effects, but truly do we really need to know more? I think we get the picture. The similarities of these side effects are so close to the ones of depression and anxiety. Perhaps the brain is the victimized one in both cases? Or is it a given? Or both? I'd like to think we've at least got this one under control.

If you're that person who drinks five cups of sweetened coffee per day, or diet drinks are what keep you going throughout the day, or your diet consists mostly of "diet" labeled food products, then you could be at risk and I strongly recommend that you do your own research on the subject or speak to your doctor about the harmful effects of aspartame. Also, if you've resonated with most of the above symptoms, perhaps an effective experiment would be to cut down or eliminate aspartame products from your diet for a week or two and see if your symptoms improve.

As much as these softer consequences sound pretty bad, researchers have found from testings that aspartame can mimic the following illnesses (but not limited to):

Alzheimer Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) Birth defects Brain tumor Brain cancer Chronic fatigue

EMS Epilepsy Fibromyalgia Grave’s disease Hypothyroidism Leukemia

Lupus Lyme disease Lymphoma Multiple sclerosis (MS) Non-hodgkins Parkinson Post-polio Worsen PMS

As you can see, if aspartame can actually cause such symptoms (and I don't think I'd wanna risk it), this is really nothing to joke about.

I'm ready to cut aspartame off of my diet, what should I avoid?

That you're dieting, simply eating a balanced diet, or maybe you're not attracted toward dieting at all, aspartame or any sort of artificial sweeteners should be avoided at all times to heal and generate new healthy brain cells. Quickly below is a list of the most common foods that may contain artificial sweeteners or aspartame, listed in alphabetical order:

• Baked goods (mostly commercially made)
• Candy
• Canned fruit
• Cereal
• Chewing gum
• Cooking sauces (low fat or calorie reduced)
• Coffer creamer
• Diet juice
• Diet soda
• Diet or slimming formulas
• Flavored water
• Granola bars
• Ice cream :(
• Jam and spread
• Jello
• Milk and substitutes (not sure on the status but it's certainly around)
• Powdered drink (Kool Aid or water flavoring powder)
• Protein supplements
• Pudding
• Redbull, energy drinks or replenishing drinks
• Salad dressing (low fat or calorie reduced)
• Table packet sweetener (aka pink, yellow and blue packets)
• Various kids' snacks :( :(
• Vitamin supplements (chewable and not chewable, including children's vitamin)
• Yogurt

...there are multiple THOUSANDS of them. Click here for a well formulated list. 

Here are the celebrity brands of artificial sweeteners that SHOULD be avoided at all costs: Blech, Equal, NutraSweet, Splenda, SugarTwin, Sweetos and Sweet'N Low.

Choosing a Calorie-free Sweetener

Based on my personal findings (and I read every single label with no exception--I have a very sensitive stomach), I saw that some natural sweeteners had been blended with artificial sweeteners, which technically adds even more confusion when seeking for a low calorie yet healthier alternative to refined sugars and artificial sweeteners. So when searching for a replacement make sure that it does not include any of these five food additives: Acesulfame K (Acesulfame Potassium), Aspartame, Saccharin, Sucralose or Neotame. Here is a simple table to help guide you through (simply stay away from the first column). My calorie-free safe sweetener of choice is Stevia extract.

Natural Sweeteners are Simply Natural

Now the best part. Sugar is never a good thing to begin with when we feel the need to add it to whatever we eat or drink, but let's face it, lots of us have a sweet tooth and life is beautiful! There are great alternatives and way better options to the artificial "stuff", and in addition to being safe options most of them offer vitamins, minerals, amino acids (complete real ones) antioxidants, anti-bacterial and antifungal properties (support to our gut--the heart of our health), help fight colds and flues and even prevent a list of illnesses! Talk about a happy switch! Read on their offerings and go with your gut! Fine, trace vitamins and minerals are low compared to food source, but this is why we have food. I present you my top 7 by preferences (also based availability and price):

1. Honey (raw or unpasteurized)
2. Maple syrup (100% pure)
3. Cane sugar (raw or unrefined)
4. Date sugar (grinding up dates--perfect for cooking and baking!)
5. Agave nectar (high in fructose)
6. Barley malt syrup (from sprouted barley)
7. Blackstrap molasse (derived from cane sugar)

Some may be high in glucose fructose, like honey, agave nectar and maple syrup, however when used in moderation and combined with solid unsweetened food they are fantastic for you. For those of you who must stay away from glucose or all sugars (diabetes), then the sugar alcohols sweeteners (considered safe) may be an option, but make sure to consult with a physician. 

Gums That Are Not So Deadly

The one that frightens me the most is gum, since the most popular brands add artificial sweeteners all being sugar-free products, with a whopping 2.5-30 mg of aspartame per piece!! Simply negatively remarkable (if you find a good online resource for this please do share it in the comments below). I'm not going to mention what are the daily doses that were recommended, reason being unlike alcohol, as it naturally drains through us with a good liver function, au contraire aspartame directly enters the brain and alters neuro cells to their deaths. This can lead to unwanted brain tumors and cancers, so the daily doses should be, nada. Just to think of how many people chew gum every day (including myself), then afterwards reach out for an Advil to ease the headache. It's not just a really nasty habit most are still oblivious to, aspartame is THE worse food additive ever added to food. 

There are so many companies that are as passionate as I am, who came up with safe, yet great tasting and long lasting gums. Although some ingredients may not be ideal, since we removed the worse from the package, the rest in moderation won't hurt as much. Personally, my favorite brand is Pur and my heart is set and I'll never go back! I offer a gum to strangers all the time (no joke), that's how I show I care ;) They come in 6 flavors, from minty to sweet to hot cinnamon and also come in value packs. Here are some other great options, Now we can chew away worry and aspartame free!

On The Go Foods

If you're out eating at a restaurant that's pretty simple, refrain yourself from requesting "diet" anything; diet pops, juices and even low fat or low calorie deserts. Some commercial brands still include sweeteners in their products although they're not diet, but if you absolutely want a soft drink then regular ones are a safer option. If you're one of those who absolutely love their pop and drink them regularly then I would recommend that you get to know your ingredients so that you can make a sound decision and not risk your health. You may also ask the waiter what kind of sweeteners they use in their cooking, so you can rest assure.

Grocery Foods for You and Your Family

If I were you I'd stay away from prepackaged foods labeled as "diet", "sugar-free", "low calories or low carbs", "reduced calories or reduced carbs", and carefully review the ingredients of foods labeled as "low fat", "fat-free", "Blue Menu", as well as foods "approved for diabetes", as you never know what could be of substitute to sugar or fat to make it sweet, creamy and great satisfying options.

My personal verdict?

READ YOUR LABELS! It's really that simple, and you'll do yourself a lot of good and illness prevention. If the label only displays "Artificial Sweeteners" it's mostly likely aspartame or one in the same family.

From further readings I surprising found out that aspartame may also increase body weight, one, by tricking the brain that we're introducing it sugar calories when we're not, so our body responds by restoring fat, just like it would in a state of starvation, and second, the neurotransmitters are gravely disturbed to the point that the brain is longer able to transmit proper messages to the body. Aspartame is also known to be highly addictive. Our bodies are designed to work with foods, not with mimic-sugar-like-chemicals--Thanks science, but I'll stick with mother nature's science.

Just like we prefer to stay away from MSG, artificial coloring and flavoring, aspartame hits first place or somewhere close to MSG. By reorienting ourselves towards healthier food selections we'll also naturally be avoiding other potentially harmful ingredients.

You'll find that you'll quickly get the hang of this (if it's something you're wanting), and who knows maybe you'll learn to enjoy it ;) Reading your labels takes only one minute, and also shows you're interested in what you're putting in your body. We have one body--let's take care of it before "substances" take care of it!

Don't be afraid to take a good step forward if you feel you've been victimized--it's never too late to click undo.

Hope you've found this informative, and please, please share!

Namaste

Sources:
Deep Roots At Home
Eatingrules.com
Wakingtimes.com
Preventdisease.com
Dorway.com
Aspartame.mercola.com
Youtube source
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Stigma and Mental Illness: Get The Facts

What is Stigma?

Stigma is a mark of attitude of society that sets a person as part of a group, by placing a label that is seen as a stereotype, such as an illness, a deformity, a color, a nationality, a religion, etc. Stigma creates prejudgments and discrimination. This HAS TO STOP!

Let's place stigma aside and pretend for a minute that we all communicate with one another with honestly, freedom and free of judgments... just for a brief moment, let's try and see what happens...

Mental illness comes in different forms, shapes and severity. It may be someone whom you've known for years, or it may be someone you've crossed path with who seemed perfectly "normal", but yet, how do we define "normal"? They may be dealing with a severe mental illness, a transient depression or recently lived a traumatic event and was left marked by it. Perhaps they've come to accept it and now live with it everyday, or maybe they're struggling to get through it, who really knows... certainly not by us judging, and obviously not with stigma.

When it comes to this sensitive subject often stigma will stand in the way and stop someone from speaking out or obtaining the help they desperately need. We seem to be open to talk about all sorts of troubles and problems, but as soon as mental illness is mentioned everyone seems to shut down or point at one another. Though if the illness is related to a post-menopause or a post physical injury, for instance, only then it's Ok to talk about since the blame goes on a concrete "physical" phenomenon, whereas if someone is dealing or suffering from an anxiety disorder or panic attacks, it becomes unacceptable because there are no evident sources for their birth. Well, as far as they know someone with a mental illness should be in a wheel chair and be dependent of everyone. Idealistically the only phenomenon that should stand between the diagnosis and the patient is the ability for one to overcome the challenge, and not the misleading label.

When a person is stigmatized he or she is instantly labeled as diagnosis "A", which would restrict the patient from seeking any other possible treatments, or even get a slight chance at looking at other recovery or healing avenues.

Now, let's take a moment to look at some important facts.

Note: The following statistics are from a Canadian stand point and researches were conducted nationally (Canadian-wide only). Please also keep in mind that these stats are not live, and only includes Canadians who have been reported or identified, therefore these numbers today would likely be much higher (nothing was submitted on my behalf...).

People and Mental Illness

1 in 5 adult will suffer a mental disorder in their lifetime.

12% of the population will suffer from an anxiety disorder in their lifetime.

8% of the population will suffer from a major depression in their lifetime.

9% of men and 16% of women are affected by some type of mental illness.

43% of adults suffer from poor health due to stress.

18% of young adults aged of 15 – 24 have reported some type of mental illness or substance abuse problem.

Anxiety leads with 6.5% being the most common problem among children and youth.

Anxiety disorder and depression are the most common types of mental illnesses.

The highest rate of depression symptoms are under 20 years of age.

The highest rate of anxiety symptoms are between 20 – 29 years of age.

Types of anxiety disorders affecting the population:

• Specific Phobia: 6.2 – 8.0%
• Social Phobia: 6.7%
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: 1.8%
• Generalized Anxiety: 1.1%
• Panic Disorder: 0.7%
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: N/A

Homeless

86% of homeless people have had either a mental illness or a substance abuse diagnosis.

75% of homeless have a substance abuse problem.

Only 22% of homeless said that their illness was the reason they became homeless.

Employment and Mental Illness

1 in 3 adult either turned down for a job for which they were qualified, or dismissed or forced to resign, once it was known that they had a mental illness.

70 – 90% of people are unemployed due to serious mental illness.

75% of short term Canadian disability claims are related to mental illness.

Health Care

Depression and psychological stress are the strongest predictor of physician visits and hospitalization.

Mood disorders was known as the most common psychiatric diagnosis for admission to general hospitals.

Substance Abuse

30% of people diagnosed with a mental illness have a substance abuse problem.

Depression is a common health consequence of heavy drinking.

18% of seniors are hospitalized because of heavy drinking.

Facts about Stigma

The prototypical image of disability recognized by most Canadians is the wheel chair.

67% agree that chronic depression is a disability, and 66% believe that mental illness is a common disorder.

58% think depression is most common.

79% recognize the symptoms of depression, 45% recognize the symptoms of schizophrenia, and 39% recognize the symptoms of anxiety.

33% think mental health problems are rare.

55% think psychiatric medications are harmful.

33% would recommend non-medical solutions.

59% believe people can recover from mental illness.

42% say they would be uncomfortable revealing that they had a mental illness.

44% say a person with mental illness would have a hard time holding a job.

Based on diagnosis, mental illness are related to biology and genetics:

• Schizophrenia: 48%
• Depression: 27%
• Anxiety: 21%

World Facts

2% of the world’s population are affected by a serious mental illness.

Depression is the fourth leading cause of disability and premature death in the world.

Our Verdict

We find that these statistics, though this particular data does not capture worldwide as well as by keeping in mind their accuracy, indicate that people who are suffering are afraid to say everything, or anything, likely lack education around mental health and mental illness, or perhaps feel powerless in some way or another. The stats also show that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not recognized as a leading factor, when it could very well be the leading cause of anxiety and/or depression, yet very few seem to link the two.

We hope that these information can help reduce the harmful effects of stigma...

Please share the love ♥

Namaste

Sources: Stigma, Canadian Statistics
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Lets Redefine The Meaning Of Mental Disease

Hello again! 

We are back and with a new look :)

Today we wish to talk about a very delicate topic, because we find that there is a tremendous amount of stigma around this, and we hope to diminish the harmful effects it has towards us all -- the word [ disease ].

We're convinced you’re wondering how to distinguish between someone who is mentally ill and someone who suffered from depression, anxiety, or an ongoing issue. The thing is that both are the same -- there is no distinguishing to do here.

Let us explain:

The words mentally diseased, mentally ill or a mental disorder have been used my health care professionals to describe an individual who is "suffering mentally". However, how do we know if a person should be "diagnosed" with a mental disorder, or if they're just having a bad year?

We find that these words are very strong words. Their meaning is actually misleading. The individual dealing with multiple life stresses, who is spending the majority of their time in unwanted or undesired situations, being constantly "bullied" by their classmates or co-workers, left and right, there are many negative obstacles preventing the from attaining mental peace. That is in fact a mental disorder; but not the mental disorder that we know, but a mental dis-order. Then, it is only a label describing such, but it doesn't define or doom the individual as being mentally ill.

We do not mind using the word mental illness (not even towards my own self), because we see it differently. The level as to how it effects an individual mentally varies from person to person, since we all have our strengths when navigating in difficult situations, and not only that, we all wish for different things for ourselves. That's what makes no right or wrong, no "sicker" than others, but only who we are.

Authentically the words mentally diseased, mentally ill, mentally challenged, and as so, are really just words that were invented to describe a "mental state".

Let's look at the label disease, as an example:

dis•ease
[də'zēz]
noun
— a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.

synonyms: illness, sickness, infection, ailment, malady, disorder, complaint, affliction, condition, indisposition, upset, problem, trouble, infirmity, disability, defect.

More breaking down just to see:

dis
[dis]
prefix
— a Latin prefix meaning "apart," "asunder," "away," "utterly," "opposite of" or having a privative, negative, or reversing force.

synonyms: disability, disaffirm, disbar, disbelief, discontent, dishearten, dislike, disown.

You see, it doesn't really matter which word we use, since the all essentially mean the exact same thing:

— a problem producing signs or physical symptoms to the body or mind.

So then a mental [ disease ] is really only a problem producing signs or physical symptoms to the body or mind, and not an actual disease, as we think.

As far as the prefix [ dis ] goes, it means the opposite of [ ease ]. So our body or our mind is simply not at ease.

That's really all there is to it.

If we carefully observe all of the above and make up a new sentence that would sum it up beautifully, one could be a person experiencing troubling events which are adverse to what he or she wants, and causing the mind and body dis-comfort.

What is a mental disease or illness? Nothing to worry about right? It seems scarier then it actually is.

We shouldn't let these words intimidate us, not only because they project a "negative energy" that is harmful to us, but also because they are awfully misleading and also packed with stigma. Moreover, they are man-made, created with ignorance, a lack of knowledge and perhaps a lack of experience! I hope no one allows these to stand in the way of truth -- what is the fundamental source of the mental-discomfort.

So now what...

Instead of constantly worrying about what type of mental illness we might have, and diagnose ourselves with some type of "mental whatever", along with taking multiple pharmaceutical treatments that actually will not fix the real issue, why don't we utterly place our focus on what is the ACTUAL issue causing us mental or physical discomfort? In fact, we think it would be preferable to mainly focus on the mental aspect for now, since the physical discomfort is likely connected. How about we replace the word "disease" with the word "discomfort".

Here:

mental-discomfort
[men-tl dis-kuhm-fert]
noun
— a person experiencing troubling events which are adverse to what he or she wants, consequently causing the mind and body dis-comfort.

It doesn't sound too bad after all :)

From what we all know, troubles are form within our head (our mind), by observing or experiencing things that we do not wish for, and from that we let in their unfavorable energy, which then cause us negative feelings, and finally, unconsciously allowing these to penetrate our bodies. We must know this difference to protect ourselves against outside negative forces. They definitely should teach this in all schools.

A person diagnosed with some type of mental illness is simplistically at the moment not doing well. This person may also be experiencing a spiritual awakening, in the form of a not so pleasant wake-up call. Sometime such circumstances need to happen in order for an individual to "wake up". It is the yang to the yin. We must face the darkness for the light to exist. We all have a teacher within us at all times (call it whatever you want), and it's their way of saying "Hey! listen up! It's gone way too far!" We beg you to not ignore it -- it only wants the same as you... because ultimately it is you.

Hence, a challenge like this one is without a doubt a call to action. When certain status have been ignored for too long or have been taken too far, in pursuance of a positive self-transformation it requires a negative fate powerful enough to make us "See". When a change is required, a call to action can present itself in unlimited ways. The individual now aware MUST surpass this call (current status) in order to reach what their heart's desire. Easier said than done, but knowing this can reform someone's life, furthermore, it can save someone's life.

That "moment of darkness" could last a life time, let’s keep that in mind… nonetheless that is only if we choose to ignore it.

Some people might say "this person is mentally ill, mentally challenged, out of his or her mind, nuts, or even crazy". Fine, let them say or think what they want, let them assume, because they don't really know the truth, they don't know your truth, which you are about to find out :)

On an added personal note, as far as I'm concerned I'm still ill, however I'm aware of its cause and for it I know I have a lot of work ahead of me. I'm not the type to give up on myself or on anyone who needs help, and for as long as my effort will serve. A little is better than none, and it can make a HUGE difference in someone's life. Hopefully in my next reincarnation I will learn to listen more and be less ignorant.

My teacher repeated to me year after year,

Hey you! You shouldn't be doing this! It doesn't feel right and you know it!". Hey you again! What did I say just a few minutes ago... why won’t you listen? How many times will I have to repeat myself?

I find it amusing when I say I'm mentally ill or I have mental disorder, in fact it doesn't bother me anymore because not only it's true, but I accept it. I'm not clear as to what is coming up next, but I'm very curious and surprisingly no longer afraid. I keep true to my heart and things make more sense. If it feels wrong I let it go. Sometimes it's hard to say no, but we all have places to be and it might not be where you're at right now. This has become my new drive -- finding out where I'm supposed to be.

We've been blah blah-ing quite a bit here, and maybe got off topic, but what we've attempted to show is that a disease is only "something" that is "not at ease" (dis-ease), if that can make you all more at ease, we're done our part.

Sources: Dictionary Reference and Google
Image credit: Unknown

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