About Melissa Chefec

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Entries by Melissa Chefec

What It’s Called When You Get Sick After Suddenly Stopping Your Antidepressants 

By Lauren Vinopal, May 4, 2022 People who take antidepressants will stop abruptly for many reasons, but psychiatrist Alex Dimitriu says it often has to do with the fact that antidepressants take weeks to work. “Because of this delayed feedback loop, it’s easy to not see the benefits or costs of starting or stopping treatments — it […]

What Therapists Personally Do When They Feel Powerless

By Dominique Astorino, May. 4, 2022 “Exercise is so helpful in blowing off steam,” said Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a double board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. Talley said intensive exercise is one of his “constant go-to” stress relievers. “When things even begin to feel over the top, I’ll put extra intensity into my […]

6 Signs of Unhealthy Sleep—and What to Do About It

By Jenn Sinrich Apr 29, 2022 If you frequently find that you need to catch up on sleep with a long nap or sleep in on the weekends or on vacation, it could be a sign that you’re lacking in sleep efficiency, warns Alex Dimitriu, MD, who is double board-certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park […]

A New Device May help Children With Down Syndrome Get a Better Night’s Sleep

By George Citroner, Apr 27, 2022 “Obstructive sleep apnea results when the throat/airway collapses due to obstruction during sleep,” explained Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine and BrainfoodMD. He described it as trying to suck on a straw that is blocked on […]

Natural Mood And Brain Boosters

April 23, 2022 Fit for Joy Podcast. Valeria Teles interviewed Dr. Alex Dimitriu about natural mood and brain boosters. Dr. Dimitriu brings a deep respect for science and spirituality into his work. Professionally, Dr. Dimitriu is dual board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine. He is currently writing a book about the interplay of therapy and […]

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 […]

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