[I have already posted this in behaviour/development and someone suggested trying here too]
For the past couple of weeks we have had a really difficult time with our DS (6.5). He is normally a good sleeper with a regular bedtime routine. He is quite a sensitive child and a bit of a worrier.
After doing the Easter story at school, he was really anxious and frightened of being on his own (tbh I think he was showing signs of this earlier but Easter seemed to have made it much worse). Normally he will fall asleep on his own at bedtime without any fuss, but he now won't let us leave him and wants us to stay with him while he falls asleep (literally for hours) and is regularly waking in the night and wanting to sleep with us. We thought this would pass within a few days and went along with it but it shows no sign of getting any better.
We have gone from being sympathetic and understanding to angry and impatient with him. DH thinks he is playing on it and manipulating us and that the time has come to take a firm line with him. I'm not so sure, but I have run out of ideas of what to do.
Tonight I got so cross with him that I smacked him 
. I have never done this before and I feel sick to think of it, but I really don't know what to do.
Sorry for the long post but if you've made it this far and have any words of wisdom, I'd be really really grateful.