I have dealt with anxiety in the past and have overcome it. This happened few months before my engineering exam preparations.
I used to follow a packed schedule and used to sleep 6 hrs daily, and started just sleeping 5hrs when this started. Somehow my body tried to adapt to this, so I wouldn't feel sleepy at night. Also I used to worry a lot as well about exams. Then I increased my physical activity, thinking being more tired would help in sleeping and it worked for few weeks. But again my body adapted to it. I increased my physical activity a lot more. Again after couple of days my body again adapted to it and I started loosing sleep again. At this point I would just sleep 1 out of 3 days and would feel tired all the time. Also consulted a doctor and had to take a sleeping pill before my board exam. Pretty much had to give my exams in this state.
What worked: Since exam anxiety was the root cause, it started getting better after exams. But even after exams, if I get too stressed, I still get this problem.
- What finally worked was change in my mindset. I used to worry too much. Had to learn how to be more chill.
- Getting enough sunlight during day is also important. During my exam preparation, pretty much used to be inside rooms in artificial lights
- Doing something other than studies/work. Some kind of relaxing hobby
- Last but not the least, believing that this will get better. I faced hopelessness in this stage which prolonged this. Believe that this will get better.
Currently whenever I feel I'm going to reach same level of anxiety due to work, I drop everything to relax. Doesn't matter what deadline it is, because health comes first and I don't have the courage to go through all this again