Most, if not all, Bad Habits and Addictions are ways for us to Temporarily feel better, either consciously or subconsciously.
Think of the bored person who eats; The stressed person who needs a cigarette; The sad, lonely or angry person who drinks... All of these things are temporary ways to feel better but once the distracting activity is done, the pain of the primary feeling is still there. This leads people down a cycle of Feel Bad > Distraction > Frustration > Depression