In the News

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.

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 […]