Entries by Melissa Chefec

The Real Reason Why You Keep Having the Same Dream Over and Over, According to Experts

By Zee Krstic, Apr 23, 2022 Sadly, science hasn’t allowed sleep specialists to nail down just one cause of a recurring dream or nightmare — as no two frequent dreams feel the same. Alex Dimitriu, M.D., psychiatrist, sleep medicine specialist and founder of California-based Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, explains that the root cause of a recurrent dream hinges […]

Can You Get Hooked on Melatonin?

By Hedy Phillips, Apr 14, 2022 However, melatonin can become so much a part of someone’s daily routine that they may feel like they can’t sleep without it. “Many people who take melatonin for insomnia may also have some degree of anxiety, especially around sleep — and this is where routines become locked in, and people […]

Fighting Stress, Anxiety, and Depression—Naturally

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, […]

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

By Mili Godio, Apr 1, 2022 One of the most important factors to consider is the weight of the blanket. While 10 percent of your body weight is recommended, it’s ultimately based on personal preference and you should ensure that “movement and breathing are not impaired,” said Alex Dimitriu, board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist at […]

How sleeping style informs pillow choice, according to experts

By Justin Krajeski, Apr 1, 2021 A pillow “can make a big difference in our ability to sleep well,” says sleep medicine specialist Alex Dimitriu, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist. While you can try to supplement your sleeping situation with blackout curtains or sleep masks or melatonin diffusers, your posture at night is just as important — as is the right pillow to […]

How Does Central Sleep Apnea Affect Mental Health?

By Sarah Sheppard, Mar 31, 2022 “In central sleep apnea, there is no obstruction. The brain simply does not initiate the breath,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “The body essentially feels choked during such episodes, and it wakes up to reopen the airway. Oftentimes, people do not remember these small […]

A 30-Minute Workout May Help Relieve Some Symptoms of Depression

By George Citroner, Mar 30, 2022 Although in more extreme cases, Dimitriu said stronger measures might be needed to treat this condition. “Therapy has been shown to be as effective as medication for depression – however it can take longer, unlike two pills of Prozac,” he cautioned. Dimitriu said medications might be more beneficial and faster acting than […]

How Cheating Starts and How to Stop It

By Risa Kerslake, Mar 21, 2022 “Our expectations are the source of our success as well as our unhappiness in life,” explained Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a psychiatrist and sleep medicine expert who founded Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California. This applies to relationships, as well. According to Dimitriu, relationships begin with certain expectations, and if […]

How Bad Is It Really to Keep Hitting the Snooze Button?

By Madeleine H. Burry, Mar 19, 2022 “The snooze button can be a nice way to procrastinate waking up, or wake up a little more gently,” says psychiatrist and sleep physician Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine and BrainfoodMD. Click HERE for the full article.

Winning The “Prior Authorization” Medication Game

By Dr. Alex Dimitriu, Mar 17, 2022 Top tips for consumers about managing medication costs Consider generic medication if possible to lower costs Check on GoodRx.com to find the best prices and pharmacies for meds When a generic request is denied due to prior authorization, ask about the cash price Pay cash over using insurance when […]

A *Tha-Thump* in the Night: The Heart-Pounding Science of Nightmares

By SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD on Mar 16, 2022 Dimitriu says, “The brain is essentially awake during REM sleep, and the body is paralyzed (on purpose).” During this time, he explains, the brain is processing and storing memories, while also rehearsing past events and playing through potential future scenarios. Because of this process, dreams can be “good […]

Dream Interpretation: What Do Dreams Mean?

By Nicole McDermott, Mar 10, 2022 “Why we dream is uncertain, but we do know that the brain does a lot of cleanup and memory packaging—and rehearsing—during the night,” says Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a double board-certified physician in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California. Dr. Dimitriu […]

It Feels Like Everyone Takes Melatonin for Better Sleep—but Should They? Here’s What Sleep Experts Say

By Ashley Zlatopolsky, Mar 2, 2022 “Taking supplemental melatonin can help people adjust to jet lag and improve sleep quality in some people with insomnia (having trouble falling and staying asleep),” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine. “It has also been shown to relieve anxiety in people before and after surgery.”  Click HERE for […]

34 Little Signs That You’re Probably Being Lied To

By Lauren Schumacker, Feb 25, 2022 We all know lying is something that should generally be avoided. However, telling small white lies every now and again to prevent awkward situations or help someone out can be harmless. That being said, no one wants to be unknowingly lied to and manipulated. “People lie because quite often some version […]

Learn How Your Antidepressants Might Affect Your Birth Control

By Megan Deak, Feb 25, 2022 “There is no direct interaction between oral contraceptives and antidepressants,” said Alex Dimitriu, M.D., a double-board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in Menlo Park, California. “However, there are certainly brain regions where the two medications may interact, possibly with opposed effects.” Click HERE for the […]

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