Welcome to PC. It sounds like you have a nice husband. I think men get confused sometimes and aren't sure what to say or do. Sometimes it isn't clear to them, if they should just listen or actually try to solve the problem. You could be a help by, prefacing your statement by saying for example - "I just need to 'vent' and need a sympathetic ear - if that's all you need, is for him to hear you. But if you need him to help you solve a problem by offering suggestions or taking action - then you need to give him this clue.

You can let him know about this strategy, so that he'll be able to pick up on your cues and clues that you're sending out. I also think men are sometimes afraid to respond or don't know how to respond because they're not used to dealing with so many complex emotions. Some men get so used to hearing their partners chatter, that they filter out the conversation and don't really listen at all lol. You could also set aside a specific time where you can share your troubles. To make a long story short - you may have to spell out what you expect.