Aug 22, 2023 Dr. Dimitriu was published in Psychology Today in an article titled:

Aromatherapy May Lead to a 226% Boost in Cognition

You know those small vials of fragrant oils sometimes placed on a hotel pillow to calm a guest and improve sleep? Well, science says they work, even suggesting certain aromas can help build better brains—and memories—during sleep. Researchers writing in a July 2023 issue of Frontiers in Neuroscience contend “olfactory enrichment”—inhaling pleasant fragrances during sleep—influences brain function in ways that significantly improve cognition and boost memory.

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May 25, 2023 Dr. Dimitriu was published in Psychology Today in an article titled:

For ADHD, White Noise Could Be an Alternative to Medication

Could some types of noise potentially prove therapeutic for individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Results of a growing number of recent studies indicate “yes,” despite past research showing that noise exposure, in general, impairs human cognitive performance, negatively affects patterns of brain activity, and damages mental and physical health. One online article boldly displays the headline White Noise May Be as Effective as Drugs for ADHD.

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April 4, 2023 Dr. Dimitriu was published in Psychology Today in an article titled:

Sleep Medications for Insomnia: Limitations and Alternatives

A study published recently (January 2023) in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease is the latest confirmation of prior scientific warnings about a potential association between certain prescribed sleeping aids, including benzodiazepines, “Z-hypnotic drugs,” and trazodone, and a significant risk of developing dementia—as high as 79 percent in Caucasian adults, ages 71-77. Additional research suggests these medications also are linked to other adverse effects, namely increased risk of falls and resulting fractures, memory loss, and confusion among older adults and safety concerns. An article appearing in a 2019 issue of Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience contends that commonly prescribed benzodiazepines for anxiety and sleep suppress the central nervous system and the brain’s awake response to danger, causing some study participants to sleep through loud fire alarms.

But if left untreated, disordered sleep, which involves difficulties falling asleep or remaining asleep during a seven- or eight-hour period, poses problems that can be as disconcerting as the effects of the drugs used to treat it. In Nature and Science of Sleep, for example, scientists indicate short-term consequences of insomnia include increased response to stress, emotional and mood disorders, and cognitive, memory, and performance deficits.

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January 11, 2023 Dr. Dimitriu was published in Psychology Today in an article titled:

Why Some Experts Believe Stress Can Aid Performance

“A little anxiety from time to time can be beneficial to task performance…[as] illustrated by the Yerkes-Dodson law, which states…performance is improved by anxiety until an optimum level of arousal is reached.” That quote, by psychologist and author Clifford B. Dobson as referenced in Yerkes-Dodson: A Law for All Seasons, might best explain why Garry Kasparov became World Chess Champion and John McEnroe won seven Grand Slam tennis championships by age 25, despite their performance stress.

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Oct 10, 2022 Dr. Dimitriu was published in Psychology Today in an article titled:

Perfection Is Unattainable: Aim for 80 Percent

Happiness is letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like.

Twenty percent reduced productivity oftentimes leads to 50 percent more happiness. And, of course, once a goal is achieved and confidence gained, one always has the opportunity to raise the bar. Some super-successful patients of mine have said their gardener or maintenance worker seems happier than they are. Indeed, setting—and achieving—smaller goals can cause the brain to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes a person feel good—even happy, and boost one’s self-esteem. Higher self-esteem enhances overall mental health.

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April 13, 2022 Dr. Dimitriu was published in Psychology Today in an article titled:

Fighting Stress, Anxiety, and Depression—Naturally

Sleep, exercise, diet, and meditation are the foundations of health and can help anyone, depressed or not, feel better. The aim of this post is to provide guidance to anyone suffering from fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, or problems with attention and focus, with part one discussing behavioral interventions, and part two focusing more on supplements and over-the-counter treatments. 

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February 14, 2022 Dr. Dimitriu was published in Psychology Today in an article titled:

ADHD: All About Power, Paradox, and Yes Pain, Too

Can knowledge of how our ancestors slept truly lead us to a life of more natural—and healthy —sleeping patterns?

Authors on the Internet have been exploring that possibility, writing a spate of recent articles indicating how the ancients, as far back as early Greece, slept in segmented or “divided” phases, which were seemingly in line with human circadian rhythm. Indeed, one online article references the Odyssey, written in the 8th or 7th century BC, in which Homer reportedly mentions the “first sleep.”

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