The Palm Beach Paradox: Is Your Local Catch Causing Your Brain Fog? Living in South Florida, we are blessed with a lifestyle that is the envy of the world. From sunny days on the Intracoastal to dining at world-class seafood restaurants in West Palm Beach, the ocean is part of our DNA. But as a psychiatrist treating depression, anxiety, and addiction, I often see patients doing everything...
Understanding Bipolar Type II: Navigating the Highs and Lows of Life Bipolar Type II is often misunderstood as a "milder" version of Bipolar I. In reality, it is a distinct and often debilitating condition characterized by a specific pattern of emotional "cycles": major depressive episodes and hypomanic periods. While the "highs" of Type II (hypomania) don’t reach the level of full-blown mania...
Understanding Narcolepsy: Symptoms, Science, and Solutions By Mark G. Agresti, MD Narcolepsy is far more than just "falling asleep during the day." It is a chronic, neurological disorder that impairs the brain's ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. For those living with it, the boundary between being awake and asleep is often blurred, leading to a life lived in a persistent "fog." At the...
Unmasking the Mirror: A Comprehensive Deep Dive into Narcissistic Personality Disorder Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is one of the most misunderstood and complex diagnoses in modern psychiatry. In popular culture, the term is often thrown around to describe a bad ex-partner or a selfish boss, but clinically, NPD is a rigid, enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior. It is...
The Sacred Mushroom: Teonanácatl In the pre-Columbian era, tribes such as the Aztecs (Mexica), Mazatecs, and Mixtecs used psilocybin mushrooms extensively. The Aztecs called them teonanácatl, which translates to "Flesh of the Gods." • Ceremonial Use: These were not used recreationally but were strictly reserved for religious rituals, healing ceremonies, and divination. The mushrooms were...
The Toxic Paradox: Why Your "Healthy" Salad Might Be Making You Sick Exposing the Dirty Dozen: The Hidden Chemical Cocktail in Your Produce Aisle By Dr. Mark Agresti MD LLC We are taught that the path to health is paved with fresh fruits and vegetables. But there is a silent contradiction sitting in your crisper drawer. While strawberries and spinach are nutritional powerhouses by nature, modern...
The Silent Alarm: When Health Anxiety Hijacks Your Life Unlocking the Truth About Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondriasis) By Dr. Mark Agresti MD LLC Are you trapped in a cycle of endless web searches, doctor visits, and paralyzing fear about your health? You might be dealing with Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD)—formerly known as Hypochondriasis. It is more than just "worrying"; it is a...
Hidden Dangers on the Grocery Shelf 1. Enriched Wheat Flour: Stripped of fiber, this filler spikes blood sugar instantly, fueling insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. 2. Industrial Seed Oils: Unstable fats like soybean and canola oil trigger oxidative stress, driving the systemic inflammation behind coronary artery disease. 3. Nitrates & Nitrites: Found in processed meats, these...
PANIC ALERT: Why "Enriched Wheat Flour" Should Scare You Straight (And Why You Need Dr. Mark Agresti NOW) By Mark G Agresti MD LLC Stop what you are doing. Go to your pantry. Pick up that box of crackers, that loaf of "healthy" bread, or that bag of pasta. Flip it over. Do you see the words "Enriched Wheat Flour"? If you do, you have my permission to PANIC. I’m serious. When I see that label, my...
Pure Fuel: The Top 5 Clean-Label Brands Revolutionizing Conscious Eating In the modern food landscape, finding products that aren't loaded with bioengineered "Franken-foods" or inflammatory enriched wheat flour can feel like a full-time job. At Mark G. Agresti, MD LLC, we advocate for a "food as medicine" philosophy. True mental and physical health starts with the fuel you provide your body. If...
