“It calms me down, helps my nerves. It helps me unwind after a
hard day.” This explanation can be thought of as the anxiety thesis. In
part it is derived from Sigmund Freud’s work. Freud concluded that in
times of anxiety and stress people fall back on things that have worked
for them in the past. In theory, the behaviors you will choose to relieve
anxiety are those you used when you last felt most secure. That lovely,
secure time might last have been at Mom’s breast. It has been downhill
ever since. In this case, use of the mouth (eating, smoking, drinking) is
chosen to ease
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