EMPTY NEST—SORT OF…

My son moved into his own apartment just over two weeks ago. I’m having a hard time adjusting to his absence. When he was living with me, I didn’t have to see him to know that he was here. I could feel his presence in the house. Now I can’t. He lives close by, but I still don’t see him much because of his schedule. I’ve seen him a couple of times since he moved, but he’s so busy with his own life and work that he doesn’t have much time to visit. He and his fiancée, who shares the apartment with him, work evenings. When they lived here with me, in what used to be the living room, they’d come in from work really late at night and then maybe they’d cook something to eat at 3:00 A.M. and then they’d watch a movie or play video games and then finally go to sleep around 6:00 A.M. and then sleep until it was time to get ready for work the next day. That was their schedule all week. On their days off, they’d sleep most of the day and then go hang out with friends, go shopping, or catch a movie. They’re probably following the same schedule now that they have their own apartment. All I know is that their absence makes the house too quiet for me. I used to complain when they had their TV or stereo up too loud and kept me awake, because  the sound carried down the hall to my room. I thought that once they moved out I’d finally be able to get on a regular sleep/wake schedule, get to bed at a decent hour and get up when the cats started howling for breakfast at 7:00 A.M. NOT!! The silence at night keeps me awake now. I’m still up all night, staring at the ceiling. I try to write—and I can’t focus on my new book because my mind wanders as I wonder what my son’s doing and then I miss him so much I start crying. Is it weird to feel like a part of your body is missing when your child moves out? Is this what they call “empty-nest syndrome”?  If this is how I feel when one child moves out, what am I going to be like when the other is gone and I’m really alone? I’m beginning to wonder if I should find a psychologist/psychiatrist or a support group or something to help me get through this transition period. Can my readers relate to my predicament and offer advice or encouragement?