Evidence has shown that depression and anxiety improve with smoking cessation. Although nicotine may cause a short-term elevation in mood due to the release of dopamine in the brain, nicotine is a stimulant and can actually worsen feelings of anxiety and low mood, and increase stress levels. When someone is smoking daily they experience withdrawal symptoms regularly throughout the day, which affect mood. Irritability, negative mood and anxiety are common withdrawal symptoms, and may be misinterpreted as depressive symptoms among individuals who smoke or who are making a quit attempt. These symptoms can be reduced or eliminated when quitting with medication support or nicotine replacement therapy.