Day three of being smoke free - advice needed with coping with mood swings

[BernieBear]

Well I have made it to day three and as long as I wear patches I can just about make it through. However the mood swings are terrible and I am finding that I am not coping so well with my 3 yr old ds. Am single mum and am usually (80% of the time) calm and happy, however I have now turned into a monster when very stressed. Does anyone have any coping strategies or can tell me how long this hideous stage lasts????? I am usually like this first thing in the morning and from 4pm til 7pm when ds goes to bed.

Many thanks

DH swore by watching scary movies when dealiong with withdrawal symptoms - something about adrenaline levels. Perhaps not v practical with a small child tho!

charliecat is bound to have some great advice

well done BTW - its day 6 for me whooo hooo.

it got easier yesterday re mood swings.

wow, congrats on day 6 - I just can't see that far ahead at the mo.!

Scary movies? The best I get is Home and Away - and that's pretty scary at the mo!

Can you plan to do something during this period or is it teatime etc.
If you can go out a short walk, even 10 mins with ds, it always lifts my mood, then just keep yourself busy till his bedtime, tidying up, dishes etc.
Oh and well done, your doing great!

I just feel like such a meanie, it's not fair that I should get grumpy with him when it is not his fault. I know that he is going through his "threenager" phase and could annoy the most calmest of people, but he should be allowed to go through this phase without a mummy that has the patience of "a woman on the edge", teeth so gritted that she can hardly talk and a strange fascination with the fridge!

Will try and get him out for the afternoon - thanks

Well done for stopping! I stopped smoking 3.5 years ago, and it can be a bit strange at the beginning. I think you can take other NRT if it all gets too much. It's a real shock to the system having all that oxygen getting to your brain! Having a fag actually won't make you feel any better and you'll just want another one. Try to bear with it and it does pass.