All of a sudden Matt couldn’t fall asleep anymore when he was 31 yrs old. The only thing that worked for him was a benzodiazepine, which he did not want to be on for the rest of his life. 


In this episode, my client Matt shares how uncovering hidden imbalances through testing, from neurotransmitter and mineral deficiencies to gut infections, helped him finally get his sleep back on track, even though his dad and grandmother have sleep issues too. 


His story is a powerful reminder that there is a root cause and a path to overcoming insomnia.


Schedule a consultation to get started with the Complete Sleep Solution program so you can consistently sleep 7+ hours uninterrupted, naturally and permanently. https://p.bttr.to/3VJwvDs



00:00 Matt's Sudden Insomnia

01:04 Matt's Initial Struggles with Sleep

02:45 Failed Remedies and Discovering the Program

03:57 Lab Test Results and Hidden Imbalances

08:02 The Path to Recovery: Supplements and Lifestyle Changes

12:55 Current Sleep Routine and Reflections

16:16 Encouragement and Final Thoughts

22:16 Conclusion and Next Steps


Episode Transcript


[00:00:00] 


All of a sudden, Matt couldn't fall asleep anymore when he was only 31 years old. The only thing that worked for him was a benzodiazepine, which he did not wanna be on for the rest of his life.


In this episode, my client Matt shares. How uncovering hidden imbalances from lab testing from neurotransmitter and mineral deficiencies to gut infections helped him finally get his sleep back on track even though his dad and grandmother have sleep issues too.


His story is a powerful reminder that there is a root cause and a path to overcoming insomnia. This is the Sleep Detective Podcast, where you will learn why you can't sleep and how to fix it naturally. I'm Martha Lewis. I'm a functional health and life coach for the past six years, helping over 300 clients find and fix the imbalances in their body so they can consistently sleep well without drugs, [00:01:00] even if insomnia runs in their family.


Hello everyone. Today I have my amazing client, Matt, with me to talk about his experience in the program. Thanks so much for being here, Matt. Absolutely, Martha, I'm glad to be here. Yeah, I appreciate it. So, I wanted to start with, you know, when you came to us, how were you sleeping, and what was your health like when you started?


So I wasn't sleeping at all. Um, it was, I was in a really bad state. Um, you know, I'm, I'm 33 years old and so when I turned 31 is when I started having, uh, sleeping difficulties. And it was really weird for me. Um, it just, it was really almost like overnight that I started having issues like I would say between a week or two.


I started noticing laying in bed at night that it was taking me longer and longer to fall [00:02:00] asleep. And, you know, previously, all my life up until that point, I had no issues with sleep whatsoever. None at all. And so, um, you know, it was a really tough time for me because I just was not used to that.


I didn't know what to do. I didn't know why I couldn't sleep. I ate healthy, I worked out, and I just, couldn't sleep. I couldn't figure it out, and it wasn't. Probably six months after that, I would say roughly I discovered you. So that helped me a ton. Yeah. Well luckily you didn't struggle for too long.


Like sometimes people are struggling for years and decades and Yeah. Right. So, well what had you tried before, like in those six months? What did you try to do? Well, you know, my dad, has struggles with sleep too. And so he was really helpful, to me, kind of, giving me some [00:03:00] stuff and pointers on what to, help me with sleep.


And so I took different sleeping pills and stuff, but unfortunately. You know, like Lusa and, Ambien and all that kind of stuff just didn't work, didn't work very well. I needed something extreme, so I had to take benzos, like diazepam and zepa and stuff.


And I guess, you know, that stuff kind of treats anxiety too, which I started having because I couldn't sleep. Right. Um, you know, but that, those would, you know, put me to sleep. But, you know, dang man, I'm like, I'm in my early thirties. I don't want to have to take that like every night to fall asleep, like.


That ain't, that's not right. And so that was really the only things that I would do. I mean, because there was nothing else that I knew of that would fix my problem. So, yeah. Totally. Awesome. So do you remember what the [00:04:00] test result showed with you? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So, yeah, it showed that.


My body was totally depleted of magnesium and calcium. So that's a big reason why I had so much anxiety. Um, and that was a thing about me too. Like before I had sleeping problems, I didn't really have much anxiety. I mean, I get it every now and then, but not nothing that I would describe as abnormal.


Um, you know, especially like, yeah. I would not have anxiety over something. I have no idea what I'm worried about or anxious about. That's what I was having. Right. Gotcha. And that was just totally foreign to me. So that was, you know, causing that problem. And then, um, my five HT P, which is a precursor to serotonin, that was very low.


Um, my dopamine was low. Um. But it was funny though, [00:05:00] like initially when I started having these problems, I thought my testosterone might be low. It was actually high. So that was good. Um, but those were the standouts that I remember from my tests. And I also like, as far as gut issues


like I had a parasite and I had h pylori. And so I had a lot of different stuff going on. Yeah, that's just all what I remember off the top of my head. Yeah, totally. Yeah, definitely some, you know, some liver detox issues it looked like too. Probably from all the pathogens as well, and some heavy metals too, so, right.


So it's like all of those things were affecting your sleep and. I think they'd probably been getting outta balance for a while. And then something was like the straw that broke the camel's back and then you couldn't sleep anymore. I think so too. 


Martha Lewis: I just want to hop in here real quickly and say that if you are ready to find the root cause of [00:06:00] your sleep issues so you can finally sleep normally again, then I can help you with that in my Complete Sleep Solution Program. It includes educational analysis of four functional lab tests, plus assessments to find everything that is affecting your sleep.


And then I give you a personalized plan to get your body back in balance. So you can sleep better. Again, the first step is to book a free consultation with me so we can meet each other, talk about what's going on with your sleep and health what you've tried so far and how my program can help you. Finally figure this out once and for all so you can find the to book a consultation in the show notes.


You know, I've tried to figure out like why I started having sleeping and I like number one, I do think I'm like genetically uh.


Predisposed to have sleeping issues. 'cause my, my dad struggles with sleep. Mm-hmm. And my grandmother struggles with sleep. Um, [00:07:00] and but besides that, I think that, you know. When I started having sleeping problems, I was kind of going through a little bit of a stressful period in my life that I didn't really realize it at the time, but looking back on it, I kind of realize it now so that I'm sure that contributed to it.


But you know, it was kind of frustrating because I've been through other stressful periods in my life and I didn't develop sleeping issues. But it could just be 'cause I was older. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, and I don't know, I, I don't really have a, a definite answer, but, um, you know, it could just be all multiple factors combining to create that problem.


But yeah. Uh, yeah. I. Working with you has definitely got me back to pretty much normal again. So that's, that's been really good. Yeah. That's so awesome. So. You already lived a pretty healthy lifestyle, like you ate well. Mm-hmm. You [00:08:00] work out. So what changes did you make? I mean, we definitely recommended supplements.


Was there much else? So you guys recommended supplements that definitely helped me address some of the issues I was having. Um, I didn't, you know, change my workouts or anything at all. Actually really once I started sleeping better, I could work out more because I started missing days because like if you don't sleep all night, you're not gonna wanna wake up at five, 6:00 AM go work out.


Right. So I started working out, you know, more like I used to, but I did change my diet a little bit because we discovered that I had a gluten sensitivity. Mm-hmm. Um, and I didn't know that. You told me to kind of lay off like the dairy and everything for a while. 'cause if your gut's not in a healthy, you know, state it, I guess it can create inflammation in your body.


Mm-hmm. So I cut that out for a while and you know, now that I'm back, you know, healthy again, I [00:09:00] eat it and have no problems. But I did change that for a while and I still obviously stay away from gluten. I mean, every now and then I'll have some of it, but, um. For the most part, you know, I, I don't eat it very often, so, yeah.


But I, I do think that that helped quite a bit. Yeah. I was gonna ask, what do you think made the biggest difference? Or was it a combination of things? I don't know if I could point to one thing necessarily. Um, I think it was really a combination of things. I think all those different supplements really probably helped the most.


Mm-hmm. Um, 'cause I just had so much stuff that was outta whack. And really honestly, now that I'm thinking about it, I would say like. Magnesium as far as taking the supplement, but also doing the Epson salt bath. Mm-hmm. That helped a lot because my magnesium was just totally depleted. And [00:10:00] then taking the calcium supplement.


When I got my magnesium and calcium levels back up, you know, I stopped having, um, you know, anxiety mm-hmm. And feeling like stressed out or, you know, like adrenaline, everything. And even if I, like, I was still struggling to fall asleep, at least I wasn't freaked out. Yeah. So, honestly, that was the biggest thing for me because it's just, it's not any fun to feel like that.


No. You know, so I would say that was the best part of the whole deal. Yeah. Awesome. And you know, like I think a lot of people associate magnesium with sleep, but not everyone. Necessarily needs it. I guess a lot of my clients do, but you know, that's why I believe in the testing to know for sure.


Instead of just saying, Hey, magnesium's gonna be the magic pill. And it's not the only thing either, it's like we had to address everything to get back and balance again. Right. Absolutely. I mean, I, I [00:11:00] don't think just doing that solved my sleeping problem. I think it just really helped with me.


Like feeling anxious Yeah. Or having adrenaline and stuff. Yeah. Which, when I got rid of that, it definitely aided me falling asleep. But yeah, I mean, I think there's stuff going on with my liver and everything, like detoxing and all that. Um, and like my five HTP levels and everything like that.


I think that really, that was a big part of me, being able to sleep again too. Yeah. Awesome. Yeah. So do you remember how long it took you to see improvements? To notice that you're sleeping better. So I responded pretty quickly, but you explained to me that the reason I probably responded so fast is because I haven't had this problem for that long.


Right? Um. So like, if you've had this for, years upon years and it's been unaddressed, I mean, [00:12:00] you know, obviously it's gonna take a lot longer to get everything ironed out. Um, so it was probably, I wanna say probably a max a month or so until I started noticing a pretty good improvement.


Um. I mean, it took a lot longer than that to get to where I'm at, where I very rarely have an issue, you know? Um, but you know, when you're going through it, it kind of feels longer. Totally. It really is, you know, it's, anybody watching this knows how difficult it is when you're struggling with sleep.


Um. Everything feels like an eternity. But yeah, it wasn't too long for me, thankfully. Yeah, yeah. Luckily, and I think it's also because, you know, you're young, you're healthy, you're living a healthy lifestyle, so all of that really helps as well too. Right. So that's great. So yeah, tell us how you are sleeping now.


I sleep really well. You [00:13:00] know, anytime that I notice that I'm laying in bed and I can tell I'm having a hard time falling asleep. 'cause that's my issue is falling asleep. You know, I'll either get out of bed and read, and if I don't do that, you told me about this company called prescriptions and they make this sleep aid that's natural.


And so I'll take a little bit of one of those and then I have no problems. And the next night I usually don't have an issue. But you know, honestly, those nights are. Pretty rare for me. Um, you know, most of the time, you know, I'll do like a Epsom salt bath, um, maybe every other night.


Sometimes I'll go for a week where I'll do it every night and then, you know, I'll get in bed and read a little bit. And then I'll go to sleep and usually have no problems now. Yeah. That's awesome. And I remember being excited when you didn't need to take the benzo anymore too. Yeah, that was a big deal for [00:14:00] me because I mean, you just read all about the side effects of that stuff and it's really bad.


It's not good. That was another thing I got really irritated going to like, you know, just traditional doctors in the medical field because like, you know, I'm, I'm ignorant, I don't know anything about, you know, all this stuff. And it's like, I'm going to them and I think they're the expert and they, they don't get my issue right.


I mean, they just act like it shouldn't be happening. And it's like, well it is. Some people just can't sleep, and it's like, that's all you can tell me, right? Just take these pills and it's, yeah, but why? Why can't I sleep? Like, you can't tell me more than that.


They don't know. So, it was really exciting to get off that stuff because I think if you can, you really need to 'cause it's not good for your body or your mind at all. So, yeah, and I [00:15:00] know, I mean, we get desperate to sleep so it makes sense and I think a lot of times people don't know there's another option, but it's like you're saying like there actually is a reason why you can't sleep and we can find that and fix it.


And like blood work isn't gonna show it and your doctor isn't gonna be able to help you, but there are definitely things going on that are causing it. Well, you take, a pill that they give you and that's a bandaid. You're not really addressing the problem and there's a reason why you can't sleep.


There's something you can work out, you can eat healthy, but if you can't sleep, you know there's something unhealthy about your body or your mind or whatever. Um, and so you have to figure out what that is. And yeah, like you said, like doing a blood test. Not, that's not gonna tell you anything unless you know, maybe you're a man, you have real low testosterone and that maybe that's the reason why you can't sleep.


But for me, I was, you know, I'm young. [00:16:00] My testosterone level was good. So it wasn't that. Yeah. So other than that, I mean, it's not gonna tell you why you can't sleep. You gotta figure out what's wrong with your gut or, or what, what have you. So, yeah, exactly. Awesome. Well, is there anything else you wanna add?


Yeah, I mean, I would say if you're watching this video and you can't sleep, um, don't give up hope. Um, you know, you just, you gotta either talk to Martha or somebody that. Is really going to engage with you and trying to figure out what your problem is. Um, you know, it worked for me. I went, I mean, I went through a period where I thought like, I'm never going to sleep again.


Yeah. You know, and that's not a good feeling at all. Um, but if you're going through that, you gotta do your research. You gotta talk to somebody that's an expert like Martha. And, um, you know, try and figure out what's going on because once you do, you'll be able to sleep again.


You might not be [00:17:00] 100% like perfect, like you were in your early twenties or a teenager or something where you can sleep half the day, but you'll be able to sleep like, you know, you should like a regular person. So that's good that it's worked for me. Yeah, totally. I love that and I love that. I mean, you didn't waste any time.


You know, you're like, by six months you're like, okay, I found this. I'm doing it. Like I'm not messing around. And I think that's good. Yeah. And again, that's why you got better so much faster, right? Absolutely. I mean, you can't, in my opinion, like your health should be your number one


priority and really at the top of the list for me. Sleep should pretty much be number one, because I mean, that's how your body recovers and if you don't sleep, it's bad for your brain. It's bad for your body. I mean, there's a reason why sleep deprivation is a form of torture.


Right. You know, so like you have to sleep. And if you can't [00:18:00] sleep, you've gotta figure out why you can't, you know? And I just wasn't gonna waste any time. 'cause I've seen my dad struggle with it for a long time and I, like, I saw my future and I was like, man, I gotta figure out what's going on.


So, And I love it. 'cause then you referred your dad to us too. He found me, I think and told you about 'em and you did it. And then he is like, well it works, so I'm gonna do it. And yeah, I interviewed him a couple months ago. So he's on the podcast too. Yeah, it was funny because he found you first, right?


And he's like, you take her course and everything, you know, you do her program first and then if it works, I'll do it. Yeah. So, and it worked. So he did it as well. Yeah, which is awesome. And it definitely took him longer to recover probably. 'cause he is older, he's been dealing with this for longer and he was very skeptical.


Like when we'd meet at the beginning he'd be like, you know, I've already done everything. Like, I don't know this is gonna work. And by month five he's like, oh my gosh, I'm sleeping. I'm like, yes. Okay, good. Yeah. Yeah. I [00:19:00] mean, you know, I didn't realize it till I started having sleeping problems, but he. Only developed sleeping issues when he was in his early thirties, just like me.


Yeah. And you know, because it, it hit me like, I mean, I, I was like a deer in headlights. I didn't know what the heck happened. Right. You know, I was literally like, fine one week and the next week, like I was just, it just, I couldn't sleep at all. Yeah. So, but that's. Kinda what happened to him. And you know, he's, you know, in his sixties, he is twice my age and you know, back then there's no internet.


You know, people knew less about all that stuff. So, you know, he was busy with his career and everything, so he just. And, you know, he went for a long, long time with that stuff being unaddressed and, you know, so like you said, when he started doing your program, it took him longer 'cause he had more issues, you know?


Mm-hmm. Than, than [00:20:00] I did because he had all these problems. But when they go unaddressed, it gets worse. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And then that can create another problem. Yeah. So he had some of that going on, but once he did your program, he got a lot better. Yeah. And it goes to show, even though there is this genetic component to it, it doesn't mean that, you're destined to have to live with this.


It's like the genetic component is leading to the imbalances that call sleep. And when our bodies get outta balance, that's what goes first for some of us because of our genetics. Whereas other people, their imbalances are in other parts of their body. So Yeah. But when your body is, balance and you can sleep normally, even if your genetics, predispose you to having those issues.


Right, exactly. And I was so glad when I did the program with you, you explained that to me because I just had it in my head for a while that. Oh, this is just genetic. I'm never gonna be able to sleep. Right. and it's really not like that. It's like, yes, [00:21:00] like you may be predisposed to it, but if you take the necessary precautions, you really don't have to, um, deal with that.


I mean, it's like my gluten sensitivity. It's like, yeah, I can eat it every now and then and I'm fine, but. If I eat it every day, it creates, you know, all this inflammation in my body. And you know, like if I didn't know that, I would just eat that every day and I wouldn't be good for my body.


But once you are armed with that knowledge, you know how to tailor your lifestyle to, fit your needs, your body's needs. So you just really need the knowledge that's all you need. Exactly. Awesome. Well, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I really appreciate it. Absolutely.


Well, I'm so thankful to you, Martha, and hopefully somebody sees this video and, finds it really helpful because I know like when I was dealing with, insomnia that, I just, needed [00:22:00] to find other people that were dealing with the issue that I had being able to talk to somebody that was an expert that really knew a lot about sleep, was just invaluable to me.


So hopefully this has helped somebody. Yeah. Awesome. Thank you.


If you're ready to finally get to the bottom of your sleep issues so you can live a long and healthy life, you want to watch the next video where I explain the three steps you can take to overcome insomnia once and for all.

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