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Entries by Melissa Chefec

Is It Just the COVID-19 Blues or Is It Depression?

January 27, 2021. Dr. Dimitriu was published in Psychology Today in an article titled: “Is It Just the COVID-19 Blues or Is It Depression?” “Don’t wish it away. Don’t look at it like it’s forever. Between you and me, I could honestly say that things can only get better.” These words from Elton John’s song […]

How a Full Moon May Affect Your Sleep

Written by George Citroner on January 27, 2021 Dr. Alex Dimitriu, who is double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine, said the moon most likely exerts its effect by an increase in evening or nighttime light. This might suppress melatonin (a sleep hormone), which affects the onset and duration of sleep. “According to this study, it does seem that […]

What Is Toxic Positivity, and Why Do Experts Say It’s Harmful?

January 21, 2021 by Jenna Wirth “Toxic positivity is essentially the denial of negative feelings, a forced positive attitude that attempts to negate any negative sentiment,” Alex Dimitriu, MD, a double board-certified physician in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, told POPSUGAR. “It’s telling someone ‘to cheer up’ or that […]

Should you wake a sleepwalker? And other sleepwalking FAQs answered

Amanda Capritto, Jan. 20, 2021 Dr. Alex Dimitriu, psychiatrist and sleep medicine doctor at Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, says sleepwalking is an example of a “disorder of confusional arousal.” “People do weird things at night when they are half awake and half asleep,” he says. “You are confused, because you are half asleep. I […]

Night terrors: What causes them and how to get rid of them

Amanda Capritto, Jan. 20, 2021 Night terrors and nightmares both involve sleep and fear, but they differ in a couple of ways. One key difference is the time at which they happen, says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, psychiatrist and sleep physician at Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine.  Nightmares are scary dreams that usually occur during REM sleep, which […]

What Are Depression Naps?

By Emilia Benton, January 13, 2021 According to Alex Dimitriu, MD, a psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in Menlo Park, California, depression naps refer to taking a nap when you’re feeling low, in an effort to boost your mood. But it might not necessarily indicate a serious problem. “It […]

This Is What Your Brain Does During Sleep

By Gary Greenberg, December 2020 “Sleep is essential for the brain, which is the most metabolically active organ in the body,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California. “Like a house after a wild party, the brain needs a complete shutdown for a thorough clean-up after each day.” […]

The truth about Weight Watchers

By K.M. Langevin, Dec. 30, 2020 “Dieting alone is part of a much more complex system,” Dr. Alex Dimitriu, psychologist and sleep specialist, told Health Digest. “Behavioral change, with the aim of overall health and sustainability, can lead to much better outcomes.” That bodes well for WW, as it offers training and tools to help […]

When Is It Too Much? Managing OCD During COVID

December 22, 2020. Dr. Dimitriu was published in Psychology Today in an article titled: “When Is It Too Much? Managing OCD During COVID” Imagine trying to tell yourself not to think about the coronavirus. Impossible, right? But everyday virus prevention measures such as handwashing and physical distancing also happen to overlap tremendously with the type […]

When Is It Too Much? Managing OCD During COVID

By Dr. Alex Dimitriu, Dec., 22, 2020 Imagine trying to tell yourself not to think about the coronavirus. Impossible, right? But everyday virus prevention measures such as handwashing and physical distancing also happen to overlap tremendously with the type of circular thinking and repetitive behaviors known all too well by those with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. Click HERE for […]

Surprising ways marriage can affect your health

By K.M. Langevin/DEC. 22, 2020 “Humans are essentially social creatures,” Dr. Alex Dimitriu, dual board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist, explained to Health Digest. “And we do better when we ‘belong,’ or have a purpose.” Dimitriu highlighted a study about “Blue Zones,” or places where people live the longest. These are also “places where there […]

THE ONE THING THAT’S PROVEN TO TREAT INSOMNIA

By Lauren Vinopal, DEC., 17, 2020 Psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist Alex Dimitriu agrees, describing insomnia as “a finger-trap problem, where the harder you force sleep, the worse sleep can be.” This is why many doctors are careful to clinically diagnose insomnia, preferring instead to focus on the main symptom of not being able to fall or […]

Always Running on 6 Hours of Sleep? Experts Explain Why You Should Aim For More

December 17, 2020 by Caitlin Flynn Alex Dimitriu, MD, a double board-certified physician in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, agreed, noting that you may need to allot even more time to make sure you’re getting adequate sleep on nights when it doesn’t come easily. “Aiming for eight […]

Ever Wondered About Lucid Dreaming? Experts Explain the Risks and Benefits and How to Do It

December 15, 2020 by Jenna Wirth In simple terms, lucid dreaming can feel like a “virtual reality” experience, Alex Dimitriu, MD, a double board-certified physician in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, told POPSUGAR. People who experience lucid dreaming can “control the content and interact with the dream, whereas […]

Working around stress

By Jackson A. Thomas, Dec. 2020 “The pandemic has worsened stress, as boundaries between home and work have been blurred,” says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in Menlo Park, California. “Kids, pets, home life and other distractions now interfere with people’s attempts to work. The lack of social contacts […]

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