How do I decide what steps to take when my partner hasn’t worked in five years?

I’m trying to figure out what practical steps I should take next in my marriage. My partner hasn’t worked during the five years we’ve been together. He keeps saying he “needs to work on his résumé” or that “no one ever calls,” but I haven’t seen him take real steps toward finding a job.

He also has a Jeep (that I have been paying for) that he won’t let me drive because he says he doesn’t trust me with it, even though I’ve never been in an accident or received a ticket. It makes me feel like he doesn’t see me as responsible or capable.

He struggles with anxiety and depression, and I’ve really tried to be supportive, but most days he just sits at his computer scrolling. I’m exhausted from carrying all the responsibility. I work full time and go to school full time but I love him, he’s genuinely kind and sweet, and we share a dog, so leaving feels complicated.

My family has also been putting pressure on me to make a decision, and that makes everything harder. I don’t want to leave him, and I’ve been trying to make this work. We even looked into having him go back to school at one point, but financially it wasn’t possible for us.(He already has a bachelor's degree). And he did used to work earlier in our relationship, which is part of why I’m struggling now. I know he’s capable, but nothing is changing.

I have a strong support system and I know I have options, but I want to handle this situation thoughtfully. I just need advice on how to move forward in a healthy, realistic way.

Posted Dec 1, 2025, 6:56 PM UTC

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