America's Doctor, Dr. Oz (featured regularly on the Oprah Show), has a theory along with what I'm sure loads of other people in America are figuring out - and that is depression and/or anxiety is at the base of many cigarette smokers life-long habits.

Consider the group of friends that begin experimenting with smoking at 13 or 14 years of age. What is the difference between the kids who puff to look cool a couple of times vs. the kids that pick up the habit quickly and continue it for 20, 30, 40 years?

There has always been the theory that some people are just more prone or have a predisposition for addiction. And I'm sure that is still very true. But what I think you may also find, is that many people who are long-time smokers suffer from an undiagnosed or untreated case of depression/anxiety disorder.

Smoking like alcohol, narcotics, and even food - is a drug, and is used as a drug - to self medicate. What are the typical reasons we self-medicate, because often we are depressed or anxious and don't know how to manage those feelings.

No one ever taught us.

What I like about Dr. Oz's treatment plans for kicking the habit of smoking is that he included and factored in the mental health piece of battling a smoking addiction. And he includes some strategies in his treatment plan which include the possibilities of using an antidepressant such as Wellbutrin (on a short-term basis) to work through the depression/anxiety while you kick the habit of smoking. The reason for this is that it may be very difficult to kick the habit of smoking without addressing the reasons why you do it.

Learn more about his Breathe Easier program, if you are a smoker or if you love someone who smokes.

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Lisa Angelettie MSW, "GirlShrink" is a psychotherapist, author, and online advice authority. Her site GirlShrink.com is the #1 "Advice & Counseling" site on the web. Please visit us for more discussion on this topic in our depression forum to talk about it further. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for topics in the news, new articles, website & book reviews, and other useful depression resources. Subscribe below.