However Now i can answer appropriately...
I used to smoke. Im not sure if I am technically AS, emotionally disturbed or both. Emotionally disturbed for certain.
At my peak I smoked 2-2.5 packs per day. I would "binge smoke". Id be a smoker for a year or two or three, then quit for like 6-8 months and back again. This cycle continued for roughly 16 years until I finally quit for primarily financial reasons. At which point,after my typical down time, I foolishly began smoking cigars and black and milds. BIG mistake. Of course being a cigarette smoker, I smoked them improperly. This combined with my years of cigarette smoking (probably the bong hits too to be honest) I have bad breathing difficulties today which I have every reason to believe are COPD or worse. Its no fun gasping for air after ascending a mere 10 stairs. Im overweight but not that bad. Old but not that old. This should not be the case.
If you have not smoked, do not start. Especially if you have an addictive personality as I do. I was only able to quit because, even though I was addicted, I really didn't like it all that much. It was all physical for me, the mental addiction was almost non-existent. Personally, for me a mental addiction is far harder to break than a physical one. But that's only my experience. Many can have the 2-4 a day and never have more. While not the best choice, I think there equally bad things that people do everyday.
It becomes a crutch and it's "calming" effect is a total lie. Smokers perceive this effect because its the two-fold result of quieting the bodies physical craving by giving it what it wants, and going to a familiar comfort zone when distressed. It also many times feels like it gives you a reason to "step away" while stressed when you could do that anyway.
Biologically it actually is an upper. Now it can, I suppose, for some, have an overstimulating effect similar to ADHD drugs, this I am unsure of. It does restrict blood flow, thus getting less oxygen to your muscles, organs and brain- thus making you more lethargic, cranky and irritable- thus not helping your stress at all. It only exacerbates it in the long run. I've found myself to have much more patience and better outburst damage control when not smoking.