I have been married for 12 years. I met him when I was 17, we got married when I was 22. He is 3 years older than me. We have 2 kids, 8 and 6. I feel we have always argued more than the 'normal" couple (whatever that is). But the last 2 years have been awful and I dont think I can hang in there much longer. A little over 2 years ago I got a promotion at work.(This seems to be where the problems started) It was very stressful and long hours but I took the job to get ahead. Things seemed fine at home. I had the job for a year. We both knew and agreed I worked too many hours and was overly stressed out from this job. I finally switched to a better situation, my stressful job finally paid off, I started making a lot more money, and now work less than 40 hrs/wk. And with the job I got a lot of confidence in myself. I had always been quite shy and now I feel I have blossomed into a successful and confident woman. My H does not agree or like how I have changed. He says I am not who he married. He continually knocks every thing I do, from the way I clean the house, to the way I cook, just everything! It isnt even a question of 'if' we are gonna argue on a daily basis, its how many. He gets so mad when I don't agree with him. I went to a marriage counselor for about three months, it didnt seem to help. He refuses to go. He says "If we need someone outside the family circle to help, then we should just give up" and "I dont see any changes in you". He did finally go to his doctor and got prozac. He has mellowed out some. He feels I dont show him enough love, and that I never have. Our families do have different styles. His is a touchy, feely family and mine is more of a success driven family. I believe they compliment each other very well. But he feels I am not giving him the love he needs. And continually cuts my parents down on how they raised me, because of the differences. I just am exhausted from the anxiety of, "is he going to yell at me today?". He tells about once a week that he is just with me now for the kids. I have to admit, I am not giving much to the relationship at the moment. He claims words shouldnt matter and that when he is mad, he will say anything to hurt me. But I have trouble forgetting these things. And what makes me so mad, when he is around anyone else, like our parents, he becomes this super sweet person and puts on this front. I never wanted to be divorced, especially because we have kids, but I am running out of desire to stay with him.