Over the years, I’ve worked with many patients who struggled with sleeping well at night and related concerns, each with their own unique challenges.

I’ve noticed that only by looking at each person as the unique person they are can we make progress on their health and sleep.

Here, I want to share three case studies highlighting how understanding the bigger picture of sleep health can lead to restorative and life-changing results.  

Case Study 1: Addressing hidden deficiencies of insomnia

When a quiet, shy woman in her 30s came to see me, she shared her struggles of not only falling asleep but waking up too early—leaving her feeling drained every day.

She revealed she’s dealt with anxiety since childhood, and it had grown worse as her sleep struggles persisted.  

Looking at her bloodwork (read more about conventional bloodwork and sleep issues), we discovered two significant signs:

• Low Ferritin Levels (Iron Storage): Her ferritin measured only 10, significantly below the optimal range of 60+. Low ferritin can disrupt sleep.  

• Chronic Elevated Bilirubin: Paired with her anxiety, shyness, and insomnia, this pointed toward pyroluria, a condition that depletes zinc and B6—both essential for healthy neurotransmitter function (such as serotonin or GABA).  

Our plan began with a two-step approach:

1. Work on calming the nervous system through guided meditations (read more here), breathwork, and acupuncture to ease anxiety and create a better environment for sleep.  

2. We also focused on investigating the cause of her low ferritin, along with iron supplementation and testing for pyroluria, and addressing it with zinc and B6 so she can sleep well and feel more peaceful.

This comprehensive strategy offered her a path toward deep, restful sleep while improving her anxiety.

Case Study 2: Battling mold toxicity and restless sleep  

One of my patients, a man in his 30s, had been having restless sleep, in and out of sleep multiple times per night, and constant fatigue for years. He has had a sleep study that showed no signs of sleep apnea.

Recently, his symptoms worsened, and he realized he had brain fog and headaches, only adding to his exhaustion.  

Upon exploring his history and symptoms, I suspected mold toxicity, even though he hadn’t identified visible signs of mold in his environment.

Mold exposure can wreak havoc on the body, leading to inflammation that affects energy, cognition, and sleep.  

After doing a urine mycotoxin test, the lab confirmed he indeed had mold colonization. Next, he did a home mold test, which revealed high mold levels in his house.

He focused on home remediation and began the detoxification process (with supplements, sauna sessions, and dry brushing). Within the first 2 months, the results were more and more apparent:

• The headaches started being less intense

• His mind was a lot clearer, which suddenly made him realize how severely brain-fogged he was

• And his sleep had gotten better; he only wakes up once or twice briefly

This case is a powerful reminder that addressing environmental factors can profoundly affect sleep and overall health.  

Case Study 3: Stabilizing blood sugar for deeper rest  

For a woman in her 50s who had struggled with chronic sleep issues for decades, it was clear from the beginning that her insomnia had multiple layers. After some investigation, we identified two significant factors contributing to her unrest:

1. Elevated midnight cortisol levels (revealed by a 7-point saliva cortisol test) which were keeping her alert when she needed to sleep.  

2. Unexpected blood sugar issues, which we uncovered through her family history of diabetes and the use of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).  

We began her treatment with adaptogenic herbs and phosphatidylserine to regulate her cortisol and calm her nervous system. But we didn’t stop there—the CGM revealed critical blood sugar trends:

• After meals, her blood sugar spiked above close to 180 to 200 mg/dL (ideally, it should stay under 140)

• While sleeping, her blood sugar plummeted to the 60s, triggering her body to wake up.  

By shifting her diet toward lower-carb meals packed with protein, fat, and fiber, we achieved stable blood sugar levels both day and night. The result? More restful sleep and renewed daily energy.  Read more blood sugar and sleep healing.

This case shows how crucial it is to look at the whole picture when addressing chronic sleep issues—sometimes, unexpected factors like blood sugar instability can hold the key to better sleep.  

Personalized support for insomnia and other sleep concerns because sleep is never one-size-tits-all

I wanted to share these case studies to show you how varied the root causes of insomnia are. That’s why taking a supplement, herb, or even medication is usually insufficient, especially with chronic insomnia. Uncovering why you can’t sleep by getting to the root cause of the imbalance can help you sleep well again in the long term.

Feel free to reach out if you’re ready to take the next step toward a personalized approach to your sleep health. Together, we’ll uncover what’s keeping you up and create a plan to help you rest deeply and restfully.

Schedule a free consult for local help in Boulder, CO, or long-distance via telehealth.

Also, check out my book, The Deep Blue Sleep—A Roadmap to Fall Asleep and Stay Asleep Naturally. This book provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the nervous system's role in sleep, strategies for improving sleep, and tips for reducing anxiety related to insomnia.

Available in Paperback, E-book, and Audiobook.