A recent article in Yahoo! News outlines how Americans who smoke have increased their tobacco intake since the economic downturn has begun. This trend is alarming to those of us in the business of helping people quit smoking, but it’s also no surprise.

For people addicted to nicotine, smoking often becomes a coping skill to get through challenging times. When family members die, their cigarettes console them in their grief. When going through a trying divorce, long smoke breaks make the work day feel more possible. Even a flat tire on the way to work can seem like a time when a cigarette is needed to stay calm and focused and able to face the day.

The irony, of course, is that cigarettes often are the reason for the stress in the first place. For example, as a Quit Coach, I can’t count the times I have spoken with someone who feels they can’t quit due to a death in the family. When I inquire as to what caused the family member’s death, the answer is frequently a tobacco-related disease.

The cycle is challenging and escalates over time. The longer a person uses tobacco, the more they reinforce the concept that tobacco helps them manage stress. The longer a person smokes, the more at risk they are for developing tobacco related diseases, endangering their loved ones with environmental tobacco smoke, and- in light of the current economy- spending their money on tobacco when it’s needed for bills and other life necessities.

Tobacco, while it is frequently part of the problem, can feel like the solution at a time of crisis. Of course, if we all waited for a stress-free time in life to quit, many of us would be waiting forever. Quitting tobacco is certainly very challenging, but the benefit of getting out of that stressful cycle is well worth the difficult days and choices it takes it takes to get there.