University of Arizona (and other colleges I'm sure) have studied the chemical compounds of emotions such as happiness, stress, sadness, etc. By doing so they have shown that the body creates specific compounds per emotion and for each compound the body creates a receptor.
The more of a compound your body creates, the more receptors are created.
What does this mean?
Well when your not feeling that emotion, your body is not creating that compound but the receptors are still there and they will cause cravings for that compound.
This means that your body can actually become addicted to an emotion, any emotion, including happiness.
The bad news.
This also means your body can become addicted to stress. Ever find yourself with nothing to do but relax and enjoy yourself but sure that this free time means you must have forgotten something or something bad is about to happen to ruin your good time? This is your bod's reaction to stress addiction.
Also, your body can develop other receptors to compounds you put into your body, like nicotine.
Nicotine compound is very similar to that of happiness. Your natural happiness receptors take in this compound and later develop nicotine receptors instead of happiness ones, creating addiction.
The good news.
Addiction can be stopped and receptor creation reversed. By starving the receptors, they will lessen in number, making your craving for that compound lessen.
When starving nicotine receptors, slowly but surely, happiness receptors will take their place.
Just a thought the next time you stress over a to-do list instead of taking a break or reach for that pack of cigarettes.
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