Yo, I don't think anyone can fully understand the struggle of being an ambitious creative, especially with anxiety (which is often the case). Your job as an artist or writer and other such professions is mentally taxing in a way that no other profession is. It really is difficult to explain, in any form, how hard it is to brain without your brain, and while deadlines push you forward, they can also be massive hurdles to creativity and quality output. Ultimately quality is more important than the deadline, so you have to give yourself grace and slough off that guilt of not doing enough. It's a challenging journey, and depsite the doubts and other things that nip at your heels, you have to pace yourself and focus on your objective. When you inevitably hit another wall, take a breath and assess how best to aproach it. Throwing yourself at it is a waste of effort. Those outside your shoes waiting anxiously for more more more will put on the pressure, but all you can do is what your body and mind allow you to do. Hang in there. You got this. I have faith that it will all be worth it in the end. Success or not you have gained and will gain so much, and it's all priceless.
-from a fellow sleep deprived writer with brain mush