Entries by Melissa Chefec

The best weighted blankets to shop in 2022, according to experts

By Mili Godio, Aug 10, 2022 The quicker our core body temperature drops, the quicker we can fall asleep, so overheating at night can disrupt your overall sleep quality, Khosla said. Since the pressure created by a weighted blanket can make it feel warmer than a typical blanket, Dimitriu recommended looking for one that features a […]

When Pain and Insomnia Collide: How to Manage ‘Painsomnia’

By Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, Aug 8, 2022 “Pain can certainly worsen insomnia and disrupt sleep; but lack of sleep, in turn, can increase how much pain people experience,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and a member of SleepFoundation.org’s medical review board. Click HERE for the full article.

Our Brain’s Natural Desire To Always Want More Could Cause Unhappiness

By Eileen Conroy, Aug 5, 2022 The paradox of choice and having a mindset that the grass is always greener on the other side can be helped by practicing acceptance and gratitude. Psychiatrist Dr. Alex Dimitriu told Healthline, “Settling for ‘good enough’ is essential in a situation with too many choices. In my work with […]

Depression, Diabetes, Hypertension: 1 in 2 Young People in the U.S. Have a Chronic Condition

By George Citroner, Aug 4, 2022 Dr. Alex Dimitriu, double board-certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park (California) Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine and BrainfoodMD, also finds women’s rate of depression often exceeds that of men. According to Dimitriu, the reasons for this difference between men and women may be attributed to biological factors that […]

Aaron Rodgers credits ayahuasca for his recent MVPs: What is the psychedelic drug?

By Natalie Neysa Alund, Aug 4, 2022 Dr. Alex Dimitriu, who specializes in psychiatry and sleep medicine – but does not use psychedelic treatments with patients due to its illegality – previously told USA TODAY psychedelics can encourage users to “connect loose themes” and experience “improved lucidity and memory.” But that does not mean they are for everyone or should be used […]

Our Minds May Be Programmed to Keep Wanting More, Leading to Unhappiness

By David Rossiaky, Aug 4, 2022 Experts believe that practicing mindfulness is one way to avoid getting caught up in achievement and overconsumption. There comes a point when “it’s time to change your aspirations and switch from wanting to enjoying,” said Dimitriu. “I think it is essential to have as much practice using the brake as using the gas […]

Empty Nest Syndrome and Sex Can Happily Coexist

By Rachel Crowe, Aug 4, 2022 “You may think you know your long-term partner inside and out, but make time to connect and have new things to talk about so that your relationship—and life—doesn’t get stale,” said Emily Heard, M.F. T., a mind-body wellness coach at Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California. “Enjoy your second honeymoon!” […]

9 top-rated travel pillows for long trips

By Mili Godio, Aug 2, 2022 “Not everyone is an equally deep sleeper, and people with any sleep issues at baseline will often have a harder time sleeping in a louder and less comfortable environment — such as an airplane,” added board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a sleep medicine specialist. He noted that posture plays a big […]

5 pillow colors to avoid – why these popular colors are harming your sleep schedule

By Megan Slack, July 31, 2022 Alex Dimitriu, who has a double board-certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founded Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, explains that some online reports suggest that red and purple may be invigorating colors that are best avoided. Meanwhile, he notes gray may feel depressing. ‘[However], I believe personal preference is the […]

Fitness Trackers Can Motivate You to Walk Up to 40 Minutes More Each Day

By George Citroner, July 25, 2022 Individuals experiencing moderate and severe anxiety disorders may want to use WATs with caution, said Jeff Leininger, NP, a psychiatric nurse practitioner with Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California. He said that neuroscience points to a “dysregulated serotonin system” for people with active eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder […]

Should I or Shouldn’t I: Knowing When to Break Up

By Ally Sweeten, July 25, 2022 Emily Rose Heard, a mind-body wellness coach at Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California who is completing her master’s degree in integral counseling psychology, recommended asking yourself several questions to evaluate a relationship: Are we willing to compromise equally to meet each other’s needs? Are we helping each other grow […]

3 Common Power Dynamics in a Relationship and How to Resolve

By Susan Fishman, July 22, 2022 According to Emily Heard, MFT, a marriage and family therapist in Menlo Park, California, power imbalances in relationships often arise around specific themes, including:  finances sexual intimacy decision making duties and responsibility When trying to handle these or other power imbalances, Heard explains three common dynamics can play out: demand/withdrawal distancer/pursuer […]

Movement and your mind

July 2022 Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine (Menlo Park, California) weighs in on the connection between your mind and body. • We were born to move. Any exercise is a nod to one of your basic needs. That can naturally make you happier. • Sleep is the spa of […]

What Do Dreams About Someone Dying Mean?

By Ann Pietrangelo, July 13, 2022 “The goal ultimately may not be to avoid having such dreams, but rather approach them with curiosity to better understand them,” Dr. Alex Dimitriu, of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California, told Healthline. Recurring dreams about death can be the result of ongoing stress and unresolved issues. Try to identify the […]

Latest Study Says 7 Hours Magic Number for Healthy Sleep

July 12, 2022 Dr. Dimitriu was published in Psychology Today in an article titled: Latest Study Says 7 Hours Magic Number for Healthy Sleep When it comes to sleep, seven may be the new magic number. Authors of a large population study, published in an April 2022 issue of Nature, indicated seven hours of daily […]

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