7 year old SN sleep regression

[Filterphobia]

Any tips appreciated.

DS age 7 almost 8 has suddenly started getting really distraught at bedtime and constantly gets out of bed and comes down crying hysterically saying he feels alone/lonely and wants us to go upstairs with him. This goes on for hours. The frequency of which he is coming down is becoming more often. He’s also demanding all light upstairs be on as he’s scared of the dark. I really don’t want to have to sit upstairs with him until he falls asleep as I have work things to do which I can only focus on once the children are in bed and asleep.

Your evening is much more disrupted by being downstairs. If you promised him you'd stay upstairs until he's asleep, and he learns to trust you will stay, you could expect him to be asleep within 15 minutes.

Can't you just do upstairs jobs for 15 mins every evening? Even if half an hour, it's not like he's asking for much. Just sit on your bed and scroll on your phone for a bit.

I suspect a large number of 7yos - neurological or not - get scared when alone and when its dark. I don't think your son is being all that unreasonable in his request to you.

Neurotypical*

I would need to be on my laptop working with several textbooks/notepads pens etc so it’s not as simple as scrolling my phone. I would have to take it all upstairs and work sat on my bed, then when he’s asleep move back down again. I also feel that if I give in to his demands he will only then push the boundaries further as that’s what he usually does. I can see if he woke up an hour later, which often happens through the night, and I was back downstairs I would have to go back up again until he settled. I already feel awful as it is with all the tears.