“I Think I’m a Human Now”: Martha Beck on Finding Sleep, Sanity, and a New Rhythm with Sleep Works

For author, coach, and self-proclaimed lifelong night owl Martha Beck, insomnia wasn’t just a nuisance — it was a daily battle for survival.

“I don’t think people understand what it’s like if they haven’t lived it,” she said. “Chronic sleep deprivation meant every day I had to choose — consciously — to stay alive. I was in continuous physical misery, brain fog, emotional distress… I had PTSD from insomnia.”

Despite years of inner work, meditation, and progress with anxiety, there was one area Martha couldn’t crack: sleep. “It was the one thing I couldn’t fix. And I tried everything. Nothing worked — or it worked once, and never again.”

That changed when a serendipitous encounter brought her face-to-face with the Sleep Works team during a visit to Costa Rica. “We were sitting at a banquet table and they said, ‘We teach people how to sleep,’ and I was like, ‘It’s not going to work, but fine. Try.’”

(Watch her video testimonial below)

“I Thought I Was Just Genetically Doomed to Be Exhausted”

Skeptical but desperate, Martha joined the 6-week CBT-I program. “Honestly, I expected it to fail. I had zero placebo effect going for me,” she laughed. “But something about how smart, grounded, and kind the team was — I felt a little hope. Not that I could do it, but that they could help.”

Two weeks into the program, something shifted. “One night, I felt a sensation in my head and my body that I had never felt before. And I thought, Oh my God… I think I’m going to fall asleep.”

It wasn’t a fluke. The sensation came again the next night. And the next. “I’m still in this state of amazement. It’s been months now. Every night, I think — it’s happening again. I’m going to sleep.”

“Everything in My Life Had to Shift Because I Finally Started Sleeping”

The transformation didn’t stop at bedtime. As Martha’s sleep deepened, her entire life changed — including her identity as a “night owl.”

“I’d taken every chronotype test. I was convinced I was genetically wired to stay up until 4am and sleep all day. My siblings are like that. I thought it was carved in stone.”

But after the program? “I started waking up at 5am, painting, going for walks — some of them 8 or 10 miles — before breakfast. I started to understand how morning people lived. And I realized… I think I’m a human now.”

With her new energy, she no longer needs to force productivity through brain fog and caffeine. “Before, life felt like a constant negotiation with exhaustion. Now it feels like I get to live. Like I reclaimed a version of myself I didn’t know existed.”

“This Is the First Time I’ve Felt My Body Do This on Its Own”

Martha had long relied on sedatives to get to sleep — which, as the Sleep Works team explained, is not the same as true, restorative sleep. But the CBT-I program did something different. “There’s a qualitative difference when something inside you shifts,” she said. “It didn’t come from a pill — it came from within me. That’s what makes it feel permanent.”

Tools like orange and red light-blocking glasses, morning light therapy, and sleep tracking with the CBT-I Coach app were key. “I loved the app — watching my sleep efficiency improve was deeply satisfying,” she shared. “Even something as small as no longer waking up to pee multiple times a night was proof that my body was finally syncing into a natural rhythm.”

“It’s Not Just Sleep. It’s Joy. It’s Life.”

Martha credits her success to the Sleep Works team’s intelligence, compassion, and unwavering belief. “When you meet someone who knows their stuff and isn’t afraid of your fear, it’s like they pull you out of the pit of insomnia,” she said.

Working with Leah, one of Sleep Works’ co-founders, was particularly impactful. “She had this calm confidence. It wasn’t just clinical knowledge — it was the lived understanding of what this pain is like. And that made all the difference.”

Martha also emphasizes that this isn’t a “one-and-done” experience — it’s a toolkit for life. “I know there may be future challenges, but I have the skills now. And I know I can come back to the team if I need them. That’s a kind of security I’ve never had.”

“You Deserve to Feel Good.”

Martha’s message to others battling sleep issues is simple: try it.

“I used to dread bedtime. I used to feel broken. Now I feel peaceful, hopeful, rested, and alive. I’m planning travel, I’m living differently, and I want other people to feel this way too.”

For those who’ve tried everything, who feel unseen and exhausted, her advice is heartfelt:

“Give it a try. Please. You deserve to feel good.”

Meet Your Sleep Coaches: Marlee & Leah

At Sleep Works, we’ve helped hundreds of people just like Martha finally get the rest they deserve. Our expert sleep therapists, Marlee and Leah, support clients in improving both the quality and quantity of their sleep.

They’re not here to judge. They’re here to support you with warmth, expertise, and a plan that actually works.

How to Get Started (Even If You’re Not Sure Yet)

Whether you’re ready to dive into Sleep Therapy or just curious, we’ve got options:

• Online Self-Guided Course – Work through the full Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) program at your own pace, on your schedule.
  

• Small Group CBT-I Programs – Learn alongside others, with live guidance from our therapists. (Eligible for private Canadian health insurance coverage - inquire for details)
  

• 1:1 Private Consultations – Get personalized support tailored to your sleep patterns, challenges and lifestyle.
  

• FREE 15-Minute Consultations – Chat with Marlee or Leah to find out which option is right for you. No pressure. Just clarity.

Schedule your free consult here