It's a common belief that smoking helps you relax. But smoking actually increases anxiety and tension.

Adults with depression are much more likely to smoke than adults without depression.

Why does it feel like smoking helps us relax?

Smoking cigarettes interferes with certain chemicals in the brain.

When smokers haven't had a cigarette for a while, the craving for another one makes them feel irritable and anxious.

These feelings can be temporarily relieved when they light up a cigarette. So smokers associate the improved mood with smoking.

In fact, it's the effects of smoking itself that's likely to have caused the anxiety in the first place.

Cutting out smoking does improve mood and reduces anxiety.

When people stop smoking, studies show:

• anxiety, depression and stress levels are lower
• quality of life and positive mood improve
• the dosage of some medicines used to treat mental health problems can be reduced

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/stopping-smoking-mental-health-benefits/