By Jennifer Chesak, Oct 30, 2025

“[Chronic] insomnia is clinically defined by trouble falling or staying asleep for three or more days a week over a three-month period,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a double board-certified physician in psychiatry and sleep medicine and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. If you have trouble sleeping, you may be wondering about what to do when you can’t sleep, insomnia treatments, how to cure insomnia, and more. We’ve got insomnia tips and tricks for you. And, yes, we’ve included tactics you can use right now in case you’re seeking an immediate solution and want us to get to it already.

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By Erica Sweeney, Oct 28, 2025

Patients often try more than one antidepressant before finding the right fit, This is often due to side effects and effectiveness, says Alex Dimitriu, MD, a psychiatrist, sleep medicine physician, and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine in California. Dr. Dimitriu was not involved with the study. “Some people will benefit from some classes of antidepressants over others,” he says, adding that the new research provides “a single glance view of the clusters of side effects from various medications.” 

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By Jessica Migala, Oct 21, 2025

Clinical depression—the most severe form of depression—is complicated, and influenced by a variety of factors including individual brain chemistry, genetics, a history of trauma, and stress. Treatment of the condition, too, is complex, needing to address the biological, genetic, environmental, and psychosocial factors at play, which differ from person-to-person. “For depression treatment, I strongly believe in a multimodal approach, as evidenced by research,” says psychiatrist Alex Dimitriu, M.D., the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California. “In my practice, we help people with daily life habits likesleep, work, play, and exercise, we add therapy to improve understanding of the patient and their relationships, and we use medication when needed.”

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By Sharon Brandwein, Sep 28, 2025

“Work, especially cognitively demanding tasks, can keep your brain in a state of alertness,” said Alex Dimitriu, MD, a dual board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine physician. “Your brain cannot go from 100 mph to zero quickly. Stepping away from work-related stress well before lights out helps signal to your brain that it’s time to wind down.” According to the 10-3-2-1 method, two hours is the sweet spot.

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By Shannon Dawson, Sep 19, 2025

Struggling to fall or stay asleep? Your body temperature plays a key role in regulating your sleep cycle, especially during REM sleep, the restorative stage when your brain and body recharge. According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, room temperature is one of the most crucial factors for quality sleep. Ideally, your bedroom should be between 60–67°F (15–19°C), according to the study, Healthline reported. Sleeping naked helps your body cool down more efficiently, which not only helps you drift off faster but also leads to deeper, more restful sleep, shared Dr. Alex Dimitriu during an interview with the New York Post, published Feb. 21. “When our bodies can cool off at night, we enter deeper stages of sleep (slow wave sleep) — which is why sleeping in a cooler environment is important.”

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By Jessica Migala, Sep 13, 2025

Overall, “melatonin supplements may lead to weight loss,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, who is double-board certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in Menlo Park, California. One big caveat: “Most of this research is from rat studies, and the doses of melatonin tested have been quite high,” Dr. Dimitriu says. What this tells us is that melatonin is not a supplement that should be used for weight loss. However, preliminary research suggests that you don’t necessarily need to worry that melatonin itself will cause weight gain, if this is a supplement you choose to take under your doctor’s recommendations.

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By Kendra Cherry, Sep 3, 2025

“The Egyptian sleep method involves sleeping under a damp sheet, which cools off from evaporation,” explains Alex Dimitriu, MD, psychiatrist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. Because water absorbs heat as it evaporates, your body temperature drops as the water gradually evaporates. Some variations of this method suggest sleeping in minimal (or no) clothing. Another alternative is to wear a damp T-shirt to bed. For the best results, make sure that your bedroom is well-ventilated to avoid trapping excess humidity. He notes that sleeping under a wet cloth isn’t always the most desirable option, but it *can* be helpful in some cases. “If you are sleeping in a really hot environment, with no other options, it might be worth a go. Just don’t over-wet the sheet!” he says.

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