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Entries by Melissa Chefec

I Drank Bone Broth Every Day for a Week to Stave Off Brain Fog—Did It Work?

By Kendra Cherry, June 4, 2025 Gut health plays an essential role in mental health, explains Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “The gut is able to communicate with the brain via the vagus nerve, and the microbiome of the gut can affect how nutrients (like B12) are absorbed, Dr. […]

6 Sneaky Signs You Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, According to Experts

By Beth Krietsch, May 30, 20205 Sleep disturbances are another common feature among people with chronic fatigue syndrome.2 These sleep issues can show up in a number of ways, including lighter sleep, more trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, restlessness during the night or waking up too early in the morning. “Because of lighter sleep, [people with […]

The Connection Between Adderall and Depression

By Sarah Sheppard, May 30, 2025 Though ADHD and depression can be diagnosed separately or together, says Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, it’s better to treat one condition at a time. Even though ADHD can cause depression and stimulants like Adderall can help with symptoms of both conditions, it’s often […]

What Is Painsomnia?

By Anna Smith Haghighi, May 14, 2025 Painsomnia is not a medical diagnosis. Patients first assigned the name to the condition, describing the struggles they have sleeping with chronic pain. Alex Dimitriu, MD, psychiatrist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California and a medical reviewer for Everyday Health, defines painsomnia as “insomnia […]

SSRIs were a ‘wonder drug’—then the research stopped. Here’s why

By Julia Ries, May 6, 2025 According to Alex Dimitriu, MD, a double board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine physician and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, the mental health space has been stuck for a while. “Aside from ketamine, most recently, and drugs like Auvelity, we have not really seen any major breakthroughs […]

Are Americans too dependent on SSRIs?

By Julia Ries, May 6, 2025 Alex Dimitriu, MD, a double board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine physician and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, says SSRIs have a gentle risk-to-benefit ratio. And when used correctly and under supervision, SSRIs can be life-changing. Dr. Dimitriu believes that people’s limited clinical experience and personal experiences have […]

How the Parasympathetic Nervous System Influences Your Mental Health

By Kendra Cherry, May 6, 2025 “While the sympathetic system helps you deal with things and get stuff done, the parasympathetic system helps you rest, heal, digest, and recover,” explains psychiatrist Alex Dimitriu, MD. It’s the sympathetic system that kicks into gear when you are faced with some type of stressor or threat and prepares you to […]

When will a Trintellix generic be available?

By Randy Magnuson, Apr 22, 2025 Per the Food and Drug Administration, around nine out of every ten prescriptions filled in the US are for generic drugs. What makes them so popular? The big draw for generics is that they’re often less expensive. A large chunk of any drug’s cost comes from the research and testing […]

Is Eating Before Bed Bad for You? Experts Share the Truth

By Beth Ann Mayer, Apr 18, 2025 “Late meals or even late snacks can result in elevated metabolism during the night, which can interfere with slow-wave sleep,” explains Dr. Alex Dimitriu, MD, a double board-certified doctor in psychiatry and sleep medicine and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “Slow-wave sleep is sort of the […]

How to Be a Better Friend, According to Therapists

By Sian Ferguson, Apr 17, 2025 Founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, Dr. Alex Dimitriu—a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist—agrees. “A good friend is someone who shows up, listens well, shares in your joys, and supports you through challenges without judgment,” he says. In other words: You don’t have to be perfect. You just have […]

The 6 best alarm clocks of 2025, tested and reviewed

By Jenny McGrath and Suzy Hernandez, Apr, 15, 2025 “Light sleepers may want as few distractions and artificial light as possible,” said Alex Dimitriu, MD, the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine. “Deep sleepers may want an alarm that is loud or gradually loud, possibly with light or a sunrise simulator to facilitate waking […]

3 foods to avoid while taking Strattera

By Sarah Bradley, Apr 10, 2025 Strattera is part of a class of medications called selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These drugs increase the amount of norepinephrine in your brain. Norepinephrine “plays a crucial role in attention, focus, and cognition,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, psychiatrist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine.  Dr. Dimitriu says increasing […]

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