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It's definitely helpful for me. (Nicotine, not smoking). There's a kind of "pick me up, let's focus" that none other legal substance I've used has. (I don't doubt opioids are "better" pick me ups, but worse in every other aspect times thousand)
My problem isn't anxiety of course, just lack of attention/focus.
Back in the 70s, smoking was actually recommended by mental health professionals in some cases. My grandmother picked up the habit in her 30s on the advice of a psychiatrist.
Anecdotally for me, it seems to be helpful for anxiety etc. I started in my mid-teens. It was a decent "social lubricant" for an awkward little nerd.
Still, any benefit (perceived or otherwise) of smoking is outweighed by all of the drawbacks.