It's very common to believe that smoking helps to cope with stress. This is not true, smoking makes stress worse.
Smoking a cigarette might make you feel a bit calmer when you're actually smoking, but it increases stress for the rest of your day.
Smoking increases your blood pressure and heart rate as well as reducing the body's oxygen supply. This creates the physical feelings of stress in our bodies.
Many smokers think that they will be more miserable when they stop but the evidence is that they will have better mental health and be happier once they stop smoking.
Because the nicotine in cigarettes is addictive, if you smoke regularly your body will crave cigarettes.
When you have a cigarette, it feels like it's calming you down, but very quickly you'll find yourself craving another cigarette and your stress levels will increase. Soon, you'll find yourself stuck in a nasty cycle.
Smoking does not solve the actual problems that can cause us stress and worry. Your stress will return shortly after you finish your cigarette.
There are better ways to cope with stress. The NHS has 10 stress busters you could try.