by Kara Cuzzone, MAY 20, 2020

“On the days I feel tired, I often notice just as much of a boost in energy from two cups of water as I would from drinking one cup of coffee,” adds Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. Keep a water bottle on your desk to remind you to stay hydrated. Yeah, you’ll probably have to pee all the time. But getting up and moving around for bathroom breaks is actually a great way to wake up too, Dr. Dimitriu adds.

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May 14, 2020. Dr. Dimitriu was published in Psychology Today about COVID-19: Tales of the “Good, the Bad and the Ugly”

Awaking without an alarm. Working from home — in pajamas, no less. Connecting with colleagues, friends and relatives — frequently and virtually — through an app and click of a mouse. Long commutes in rush-hour traffic and inclement weather — history. Time-wasted travel to meetings — forgotten. Looming commitments, must-attend events — canceled. Soccer practice — postponed. All because a virus has forced us to shelter. Isn’t this what we always wanted? Get off the merry-go-round? Take a break? Chill?

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Anna Gragert, May 11, 2020

Unpleasant and strange as these bad dreams might be for those of us having them, sleep experts aren’t surprised. “In a situation like the current one with Covid-19, with an increase in background stress, it makes sense that we might experience more disturbing dreams,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep. “Freud, in his dream analysis, also referred to something known as ‘day residue.’” Day residue describes waking-life events that appear in our dreams and nightmares. These images and scenes typically pop up during the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase, according to Dimitriu, which tends to take place during the second half of the night.

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by George Citroner on May 1, 2020

“Excess screen time, especially in the evening hours, and even more so just before bed, is bad for everyone’s sleep,” said Dr. Alex Dimitriu, double board certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine, and founder of Menlo Park (California) Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “The blue light from the screen — yes, even the dimming features are not enough — reduce melatonin, and reduce the quality of deep sleep that our brains need,” he said. Dimitriu also described how the interactivity of digital devices could keep people internet surfing until late at night, while you may only read a book for 20 minutes before dozing off.

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MK Manoylov, April 29, 2020

This article was medically reviewed by Alex Dimitriu, MD, psychiatrist and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine. 

Depression and insomnia often go hand-in-hand. That’s because depression can disrupt many aspects that help control our sleep-wake cycle.  This disruption can make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both. Here’s what you need to know about how depression is related to insomnia and how to treat the combination of these medical conditions. Can depression cause insomnia? Depression can cause insomnia because of how it impacts the mechanics of sleep

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April 20, 2020 — Dr. Alex Dimitriu, Founder of the Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine clinic, was interviewed by Insider for the article, “Are sleeping pills safe? The risks of prescription and over-the-counter sleep aids, and how to use them safely.”

Click HERE for the full article.

April 16, 2020 — Dr. Alex Dimitriu, Founder of the Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine clinic, was interviewed by Insider for the article, “Why am I having weird dreams? The science behind your dreams and how to manage them.”

Click HERE for the full article.