http://206.189.200.158 ~ (561) 444-7044

Dr. Mark Agresti, West Palm Beach Drug & Alcohol Detox Specialist – Psychiatrist, shares his in-office video that educates his patients on the symptoms, troubles and hardships of Bipolar Disorder.  Learn about the manic and the depressive sides to bipolar disorder.

Call Dr. Agresti today to get help with Bipolar Disorder.

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http://206.189.200.158 ~ (561) 444-7044

Dr. Mark Agresti, West Palm Beach Drug & Alcohol Detox Specialist – Psychiatrist, shares his in-office video that educates his patients on the symptoms, troubles and hardships of Bipolar Disorder. Learn about the manic and the depressive sides to bipolar disorder.

Call Dr. Agresti today to get help with Bipolar Disorder.

Learn More

Depression usually starts out simple. For my patient, Cindy, for example, it began with down days during her first semester in college, when she wouldn’t get out of bed. She did not leave her apartment, wore sweat pants all the time, stopped doing her hair and makeup, gave up her spin class, and neglected her bathing and hygiene.

As time went on, she became more and more isolated from her friends. Her eating habits deteriorated — Skittles and Chinese food became her staple, and in order to sleep, she took Benadryl with a giant glass of wine.

Symptoms and Treatment of Depression

It was the same thing, day in, day out, and as bad as it sounds, her condition was treatable. It’s important for those battling depression to remember this, which is why I am sharing Cindy’s story. (more…)

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http://206.189.200.158 ~ (561) 444-7044

Dr. Mark Agresti, West Palm Beach Mental Health Specialist — Psychiatrist, explains what is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He explains the symptoms of OCD. Learn the behaviors and some of the medications used to treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Call Dr. Agresti today to get help with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ( OCD ).

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Something horrible has happened to you or someone close to you. For example a near death experience, a car accident, war experiences or being a victim of a violent crime.

The disorder can be divided into four parts the first is trauma, the second is re-experiencing the trauma, the third is avoiding anything which is a reminder of the trauma and finally the fourth is increased arousal.

Traumas are usually violent and deadly in nature. That overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. A complicating factor is the sense of being helpless or out of control. Being shot at is a common example. Being robbed, raped, beaten or tortured. Violent natural or man made events where death is possible.

The re-experiencing the trauma involves nightmares or flashbacks. People feel they are re-living, every aspect of the trauma. They may experience illusions and hallucinations of the traumatic event. (more…)

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Patients ask me all the time “What to do when your anti-depressant stops working?” For example you have depression and have been on Zoloft for seven years and done well, but the past six months you feel more depressed.

First thing to ask is “are you using alcohol?” That’s the worst thing you could do. Alcohol is a depressant and maybe interfering with the efficacy of the antidepressant. Marijuana, Opiates, Benzodiazepines and Antihistamines aren’t much better either.

For example drugs like Roxycodone, Oxycodone, Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Loritabs, Hydrocodone, Xanax, Alprazolam, Ativan Lorazepram, Benadryl, and Diphenhydramine these drugs have a similar effect and may function as depressants.

Substance dependency usually results in depression, whether it is a physical or psychological affect. Often times an antidepressant isn’t working the first thing people do is self medicate. Don’t do that because it makes matters worst. (more…)

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The biggest reason people stop medication is they don’t like taking pills. Some people just forget. Others start doing well so they say, “I don’t need it anymore”. Side effects that are uncomfortable are another big problem. Dry mouth, constipation, nausea, and dizziness can occur with a lot of medications. People stop medications because they don’t believe that they are sick or that the medication will help. Individuals are in denial about illness. Lately I’m seeing people stop medication because it’s too expensive. Sometimes people stop medication because they like the manic state and don’t want anything to stop.

One patient told me he wanted to use alcohol and didn’t want to take his medication with alcohol. I think that makes sense.

How do we keep people on medication? First education is the key. Educating them on the risks of the mental illness. Psychiatric illness can be damaging to the brain. Untreated mental illness results in breakup of relationships, loss of jobs, legal problems and problems in marriages.

Going off medications may result in withdrawal syndromes. Stopping medications can make a lot of things worse. Depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and psychiatric disorders become worse. Untreated mental illness may predispose people to addiction and self medication with drugs of abuse. (more…)

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http://206.189.200.158 ~ (561) 444-7044

Dr. Mark Agresti, West Palm Beach Mental Health Specialist – Psychiatrist, explains what is Generalized Anxiety Disorder.  He explains the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.  Learn the behaviors and some of the treatments used to treat generalized anxiety disorder.  Generalized anxiety disorder is treatable.

Call Dr. Agresti today to get help with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

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http://206.189.200.158 ~ (561) 444-7044

Dr. Agresti, West Palm Beach Mental Health Specialist – Psychiatrist, explains what Bipolar Disorder is.  He explains the manic side and the depressive side of bipolar disorder.  Learn the extremes of the two different behaviors and some of the medications used to treat bipolar disorder.  Bipolar disorder medications and treatments should be ones that work with you, the patient, as an individual and suite your life.

Call Dr. Agresti today to get help with Bipolar Disorder.

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http://206.189.200.158 ~ (561) 444-7044

Dr. Agresti, Psychiatrist in West Palm Beach, Florida, talks about his preferred medications for treating depression.  Depression is more that just feeling sad for a few days.  Psychological symptoms of depression are sadness, lack of desire for fun, hopelessness helplessness, despair, worthlessness, guilt, thoughts of death and dying.  The physical symptoms of depression are changes in appetite and changes in weight. Problems with sleeping develop with people who suffer from depression.  Depression medications start working in a week or two and may take up to two months.  Anti-depressants commonly used are Wellbutrin, Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Paxil, Remeron, Effexor and Pristiq.

Call Dr. Agresti today to get help for your depression.

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The first step is identifying the illness.  Depression is more that just feeling sad for a few days.  Depression means weeks of being so sad, you start having trouble working or going to school.  You start having problems in relationships.  Problems develop in just taking care of you.

People with depression have two types of symptoms.  The first type is psychological.  The second type is physical.  Psychological symptoms are sadness, lack of desire for fun, hopelessness helplessness, despair, worthlessness, guilt, thoughts of death and dying.  The physical symptoms are changes in appetite and changes in weight.  Problems with sleeping develop.  Usually individuals wake from sleep easily.  Problems with concentration and cognition develop.  Individuals become agitated or irritable.  Problems dealing with stressors and making decisions.

That’s enough about symptoms.  Once you see you or a loved one has depression help is crucial.  See a mental health professional.  Things can be done right away if you are depressed.  One important thing is to start exercising everyday.  Stop drinking alcohol or using non prescribed sleep aids.  Start eating a healthy diet.  That means lean meats, fresh chicken, fruits, vegetables and nuts.  No sugar, salt or complex carbs.  Complex carbs are anything from a bakery.  You know cakes, cookies, candies, breads and processed foods.  That’s what individuals can do for themselves.  Then it might be helpful to see a psychotherapist.  That’s where you sit and talk to someone.  Seeing a psychiatrist is also helpful. (more…)

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The treatment depends on what state the individual is in and how severe.  Manic patients have a wide range of symptoms.  The severely agitated and psychiatric manic patient needs hospitalization and treatment with antipsychotics, like Risperdal, Seroquel, Geodon, and Zyprexa.  The less severe forms of mania respond to Depakote, Lamictal, Trileptal, Lithium, Abilify, Topamax and Zonegran.  The key here is to put someone on a medication which they can live with.  Most Bipolar patients require a lifetime of treatment.

What happens if they are depressed with a known history of mania?  You have to pre-treat with a mood stabilizer which I mentioned above and then use an anti-depressant.  Anti-depressant medications I like to use are Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Zoloft and Prozac.

(Note, some mood stabilizers like Abilify, Lamictal, Seroquel, and Zyprexa may be enough to treat both depression and mania.) (more…)

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Dr. Agresti talks about medications for treating Bipolar Disorder that do not cause weight gain.  Pregnant women with bipolar disorder should not use these medications.  Learn more about Dr. Agresti, a Board Certified Psychiatrist practicing in Palm Beach County for fifteen years.  He is a specialist in the psycho-social aspects of addiction.

Call (561) 444-7044 or email: info@206.189.200.158 Dr. Agresti today to get help with Bipolar Disorder.

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