Feeling quite fed up

[Overthinker991]

Not sure if looking for advice or just a rant. Been with my partner for 7 years and lived together for around 5. I feel like all of our spark is gone and find myself wondering what I am doing here. I'm not sure I enjoy spending time with him anymore. Anytime I think of leaving, I feel like I cant imagine life without him. When we got together I was quite anxious and lacked confidence or the ability to stand up for myself. Things have changed in that respect and I definitely stand up for myself more but it doesn't feel like an even relationship. He's very opinionated and sometimes I think he's very harsh on me for small things when if it were me, I'd just pick my battles and let things go. And tbh, quite often I just don't feel like he likes me all that much. I feel like I spend a lot of my time trying to keep the peace and run around doing household chores in between a full-time job and majority of the work with our dog while he plays video games and goes outside to smoke (a habit that I hate). The only time he really has to look after the dog is when I'm in the office twice a week. We have been going on dates more often the last few months to try and sort of ignite the spark again if you will but I feel like as soon as the next day comes it's back to the same old story. I feel like I work a lot harder in the relationship but he doesn't see it that way. Our sex life is slowly dwindling mostly because I just find it hard to feel in the mood nowadays. Is it normal to have feelings like this in a long-term relationship or are am I just kidding myself?

You're either going to get replies from people that have felt like this / experienced this and left OR felt like this / experienced this and stayed. So please be aware some of the replies you get will be biased based on that persons real life experience. I'll try and stay neutral, however I'm someone that has experienced similar to this, and stayed.
Despite what you might hear from others, I feel like all long term relationships do go through a phase where the flame dwindles and sometimes even goes out completely. No matter how good your relationship might be, things can't be perfect all the time.
It's good you're going on more dates recently. Stick at it! Things may not pick up straight away, but this could definitely help bring some of the spark back if you keep at it.
As for him being opinionated, (my partner is too) it gets to a point where if you don't bring it up and just take it.. you will start to resent him. If you call him out on his behaviour , I.e. when he's being harsh on you, it may give him the kick up the arse he needs. Maybe he doesn't realise he's being harsh. Sometimes men can just be slow, and their words aren't always meant to come across the way they do to us.
You might have already reached the stage of resentment (your comment about his habit that you hate makes me think this may be the case) in which case, you will both need to have an in depth conversation, and figure out whether it is worth carrying on the way things are, or whether you should come to a mutual agreement to separate. If he knows you're feeling this way.. he may change his ways. Don't let other people on here fool you, people CAN change. But only if they want to.
Good luck x

There's a reason a term was coined "7 year itch"

Things do get stale in relationships. That's not to say they won't get better and it's not to say they won't get worse.

Maybe try the best you can to make it better, journal if you need to, maybe give yourself a date to analyse your relationship again and see how you're feeling. If you're still feeling the same, there's your answer.

Ultimately, no one will ever beable to tell you what to do, it's something we figure out on our own and it's a difficult journey.

@AutumnalPumpkin @always2323 thank you both for your responses, I was expecting answers along the lines of leave him or stop moaning, so I really appreciate your constructive advice and understanding x