Help with teenage insomnia

[hells1908]

Need help to nip this in the bud! DS1 is 17 and in last year at school. He had an appalling year last year with insomnia and illness. Missed 30 days off school. Tried all the usual - no computer in the hour before bed, warm bath, cocoa, even lavender bloomin' spray on his pillows...ended up going down the medical root. Even double doses of Zopiclone didn't work. GP thought it was maybe anxiety/over active brain (he has Aspergers, is v bright, applying to read Philosophy at Uni, said he was lying there at 2am devising new ideologies!!) So they tried him on low doses of Amitryptilline. Again, no joy.

So then went down the psych route. Saw a couple of counsellors, couple of psychs, local mental health assessment...they found nothing, just maybe mild 'abandonment issues' because I have been a single Mum most of his life, we were a team, and now I have a lovely new partner so might have been feeling a bit put out.

Have tried to compensate and we had a fantastic summer trekking in South America. Got on really well. The three of us went off last weekend (DP's suggestion) to do a cooking course in Ireland so DS had a few basics under his belt for when he leaves home; he was really enthusiastic about it and has already knocked up a roast chicken and fish in a bag on his return! And this school term has shown a quantum difference, helped no end I think by how super motivated he is about Uni. So far so brilliant.

And then this weekend went to his Dad's who is a disaster - alcoholic, mental issues, the works. DS basically cares for him when he sees him. Nothing 'bad' happened, just a non-weekend and has probably knocked him back a bit. Stayed up till 2am on Sunday night playing an online charity gaming marathon. Still got up in time for school on Monday morning, which was great, but then absolutely no sleep at all last night and looks like a Hallowe'en leftover. Again, dragged himself to school though, very proud of him, as the few times I've had insomnia it's hell.

And then to add to things...am 19 weeks pregnant with twins with new partner. DS is being very jolly about it, to the extent of suggesting comedy names, wanting to come to the scan next week, being much better about tidying room, bringing laundry down, cooking etc so I don't have to be running round so much...but he is very probably feeling that my attention is diverted, no sooner is he about to leave than I replace him etc.

What to do? We simply can't have a repeat of last year; it's resulted in him having to do some resits just because he missed so much. And being selfish, when the twins are out in the open, I just won't have the energy to be in charge of him getting up each day too...

Help!!!