Anxiety/Sensory issues Correlation with Sleep

Yes. Sleeping is our biology's way of Regenerating. Sleep deprivation on prisoners is a form of torture (as is sonic weaponry or heavy lighting). When you're sick or growing, or after surgery, your body will use sleep to repair itself. A lack of sleep will affect memory and focus and our general neurology to the effect that it can warp our ability to think soundly, to evaluate and judge a thing with clarity and therefore, you should never drive when you've had too little sleep. It can cause hallucinations, so sleep is necessary. 

A quick search can bring up suff like this https://www.healthline.com/health/can-you-die-from-lack-of-sleep#effects

Provided you're in decent health, it could be advisable to either wear yourself out physically or ask your GP for something to help you get a few good nights rest. 

I used to just crumble into a pool of tears when exhausted and would work myself to that (I grew up in the US and had been told that a good citizen will work themselves to death). Now, I do not compromise on my sleep and I do not work myself to exhaustion. When well rested, I am far more focused, far more effective and better at everything in general than when not. 

Anxiety is always a Response. It is important to have a safe space to rest in. From being mindful about self-care (proper nutrients, proper sleep, enough exercise, a calm environment), then one can assess what is causing anxiety. Is my perspective off about a relationship? Am I allowing myself to be taken advantage of? Is there another sensory issue that my sub-merged conscious is passively picking up that I'm not actively aware of?

I can tell you there are so many structures in society which are unjust or warped and until I was aware of them it gave me anxiety. "Beggars can't be choosers" is horrendous. Because they can and they should. I don't have to be friends or in a relationship with someone who is cruel or stealing from me. It's better to be alone and have personal agency than wish I was alone and being walked on. I should say no to a food item that I have an allergy to, because what good is eating when I'm hungry if it will create far worse problems. Being responsible for health and wellbeing is a more effective way to be a human. 

NT social structures work off of secret codes of Guilt and Debt. This can cause feelings of being trapped which will cause anxiety. Understanding that system is how we break free because autistics don't actually function like this. For most of us, we don't need to feel guilty to be responsible, just be given a manual on how to help create a well functioning community. Once the vision of our role & rewards in a healthy society is lodged into our brain, it's difficult to not to want to do that. 

This chap is a bit professor like but a good one to help understand these systems around us: https://twitter.com/AutCollab

Create a healthy state for your biology and then you'll be able to work out what other things are stressful! x

Thank you so much. This is very helpful! I'm also living in the US currently so I understand the 

JuniperFromGallifrey said:

work themselves to death

motto. I'm so tired but have so much to do and struggle to keep up with it all. Plus I've had insomnia from a young age because I can't shut my brain off and would end up sobbing at 3am as a six year old unable to sleep, so now I take sleeping pills (they're all natural and I highly recommend them to anyone who struggles to fall/stay asleep at night). 

I'm going to take a look at some of these resources you included. I never considered the guilt/debt codes of society but I think I sort of know what you're talking about. I've had people describe that to me in different terms. I know my motivation to do things has always been different than my peers. 

Anyway, thank you!

I might suggest also getting a prescription for Xanax. When my mind is hyper-calculating at 2am, I'll take 1/4 of a tablet to make it stop and then I can usually fall asleep. I use them as a resource to stay healthy. For instance, when there is an overwhelming emotional impact that creates such anxiety I have physical symptoms, I take them (not consecutively) in order to reason with clarity through the problem. I feel like all autistics should have access to this drug. Given how intensely we feel.

I might suggest also getting a prescription for Xanax. When my mind is hyper-calculating at 2am, I'll take 1/4 of a tablet to make it stop and then I can usually fall asleep. I use them as a resource to stay healthy. For instance, when there is an overwhelming emotional impact that creates such anxiety I have physical symptoms, I take them (not consecutively) in order to reason with clarity through the problem. I feel like all autistics should have access to this drug. Given how intensely we feel.