In this episode of Thyroid Strong, Dr. Emily Kiberd breaks down one of the most overlooked but transformational areas of healing for women with Hashimoto’s: sleep. If you’re waking up at 2 AM with a racing mind, lying in bed for hours despite being bone-tired, this episode is for you.

Before jumping into thyroid labs, adrenal tests, or gut protocols, Dr. Emily explains why sleep is the very first thing she addresses in her root cause functional medicine practice—and why fixing your sleep might be the fastest way to restore your energy, focus, and vitality.

Through six real-life client stories, Dr. Emily unpacks what could actually be waking you up in the middle of the night—from cortisol spikes and blood sugar crashes, to hidden mold exposure, parasites, hormone shifts, and even undiagnosed sleep apnea. These aren’t surface-level tips—these are functional medicine strategies that transform lives.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How sleep impacts every part of your healing journey with Hashimoto’s
• Why tracking deep sleep matters more than hours slept
• How stress, blood sugar, and mold can quietly sabotage your sleep
• What most GI and hormone labs miss when it comes to sleep issues
• Why a “normal” looking GI-MAP doesn’t rule out parasites
• What to ask your provider about sleep apnea (even if you “sleep fine”)
• The root cause approach to reclaiming deep sleep, energy, and your life

Highlights:

00:00 Welcome & why sleep is the first place to start

01:20 The four foundational pillars of healing

03:14 Client story: Waking at 2:30 AM with racing thoughts

05:32 How to track your deep sleep and cortisol accurately

08:57 The blood sugar crash no one was catching

13:00 The overlooked role of mold and home health

17:41 Nighttime parasite activity and travel history

22:28 How perimenopause impacts your sleep hormones

26:10 Why sleep apnea often gets missed in exhausted women

33:50 What to do next: Testing, tools, and your healing roadmap

Links & Resources

Apply for 1:1 Root Cause Functional Medicine Coaching

👉 1:1 Functional Health Coaching – Dr. Emily Kiberd

Learn my secret to sustainable weight loss for Hashimoto’s.

👉Join Thyroid Strong Elite: 6-Month Group Coaching

Book a free discovery call with Dr. Emily Kiberd

Myofunctional therapist Dr. Emily recommends:

👉 Kimmy Herrera at Smile Airway Health (telehealth available)

Follow Dr. Emily Kiberd and Thyroid Strong:

📘 Facebook: Thyroid Strong

📷 Instagram: @thyroid.strong

🎵 TikTok: Thyroid Strong on TikTok