in a rocky marriage

[pika111]

My marriage has been on the downhill for a number of years. In fact, it started even before we got married but since we have been living together for 7 years prior, it wasn't a hard decision to make to get the certificate. My husband is a good person in many ways, loyal, clean of bad habits, very helpful to everyone and we shared a lot of travels and adventures together. But he had this kind of attitude of him always being the right one, suspicious, and he complains a lot and condemns many things he doesn't see as right. When I pointed out him being critical and negative, he turns to show pride in his perfectionism and being careful/responsible and protective. Slowly we grew apart in our life pursuit and even world view -- him being more conservative. At times, his negativity and cynicism really depressed me, and it doesn't help I was on my own personal struggle to find and create a path for my own pursuit, which he doesn't have much interest in. I saw the dark side of him I've never saw before and that frightened me. Nothing physical but I felt the rage in him. It got to the point I moved out and spent some time with my parents, just to give us some room to think things over. During our time apart, we talked on phone and skyped, we both have fond memory of our good times together but wherever a serious conversation comes up, we fall back to the old arguments that don't seem to go anywhere. The whole situation is draining the energy out of me and I'm not sure I want to continue feeling like this. It felt such a pity to leave a relationship that was once great and special yet the situation right now feels so suffocating. What should I do?

Edited May 31, 2011 by pika111