The chemicals in tobacco smoke is known to induce an autonomic response in the chest and lung areas, relaxing the muscles there. If people learned muscle relaxation techniques they might get rid of a part of their dependence upon smoking. Similarly, when you quit you need to make up for that lost stress reduction mechanism. Smoking is more than a physiological disorder, but a psychological one as well. If you are to free yourself of both dependencies, it’ll take more than a nicotine patch but a commitment to learning relaxation skills as well.