Hard to Quit - if its just a few cigarettes ever few days

[MarkStarr]

Im having trouble mustering the will to quit, since I smoke very little and very infrequently now. I only smoke like 3 or 4 cigarettes every couple of days or so, and often times I can go several days or even a week without smoking a cigarette with no problem.

Im not really a "social" smoker, in that its not like Im out smoking with friends or family. I started smoking somewhat privately on high school and became a more of a regular pack a day type smoker in college, although I was still a bit secretive about my smoking back then, only smoking around a select few friends or when lost in the crowd. I continued to privately smoke off and on for five or six years after college, usually less than half a pack a day, and  but after getting married almost three years ago to a wife that hates smoking and starting a job in a very anti-smoking workplace I started to cut back and be much more discreet about my smoking.

Now, I only smoke 3 or 4 cigarettes maybe two or three times a week on average, whenever Im able to find a brief private moment to take a break for myself in a way that wont offend either my wife or my workplace's sensibilities. -- I have to admit Im almost content with this arrangement, except that it make it hard for me to muster the willpower to go all the way and quit.

[teko]

Because of the very reason you say you do it, is the very reason you should not smoke and get off of them now. That is exactly how I started smoking. I am also someone who swore they would never smoke. So as things in life caused more stress I smoked more and finally I was a chain smoker before I realized it. Over 35 years later her I sit, getting off of the smokes. 6 months on the end of june. And I still have times when stressed that I want one and at this point is mind over matter.

[MarkStarr]

I guess in my mind I think that smoking just helps me feel less nervous and less anxious. I know that technically its a stimulant, but it does seem to help me calm my nerves, which is something I feel I could use a few times a week. Is that "helping" me in any real way, I dunno, probably not in a strictly medical sense. In fact, Im pretty sure its actively bad for me. Its also hard because my wife hates smoking, even though she herself is also a smoker, she has been so supportive and proud of me for "quitting" smoking. She claims that my quitting helps motivate her to try and quit herself, and on the occasion that I have talked about wanting to start back smoking again, she has adamantly opposed me starting smoking again, because she says it would make it almost impossible for her; so between her and my very anti-smoking workplace, I just have a few private cigarettes to myself every week.

I dont want to say that its my "5 minutes of peace" everyday, because I know thats just what every addict says, but the overly logical-argumentative side of my mind wants to argue that just a few cigarettes a week cant be that bad, even though I know its just maintaining an unhealth habbit that I need to muster the will to kick for good.

[Reign30]

What does smoking do for you?  Is it just a habit or does it help you in any shape or form?