Sisu,
In response:
We had a complete break -- we broke up! We had a terrible break up, it lasted a month. I felt something was remiss, I started it, I pushed him, triggered his PTSD and then shit really hit the fan. It was the worst heart ache I had ever felt. I felt like I was going insane, I was an emotional wreck for at least 6 months after ward. I hit rock bottom financially, physically and mentally. But I did have other shit I did not deal with, like a marijuana addiction, a previous divorce almost ( I met BB a year after my previous 6 year de facto mentally abusive relationship), our break up was just the straw that broke the camels back.
When we broke up it was terrible, a drama of whirlwind proportions and sleepless nights. And in the final showdown (when I threw him out) he refused to admit that he didn't love me any more. I wanted him to admit it for some reason. So in answer to your question, yes we have dated several other people, hell he even started dating my house mate (who I had thrown out) after she more or less threw herself at him. We didn't speak to each other and I pretended I didn't see him if we passed each other. He even came up to speak with my brother who was standing right beside me and I just walked away, it hurt too much and I wanted him wiped. I wanted me wiped. He stalked me a little, phone call hang ups. I did the same for a bit too. About a month later I heard he left the country and that was that. I even screwed around for a bit, but that soon got boring. I sent him two emails in two years. One was to say Happy Birthday - no reply (was two months after we spilt)
And yes, I have gone through an incredible state of self growth and healing. I had counselling for some time, I got rid of my emotional toxins and now I am the happiest with myself than I have ever been.
When we first got back into contact, he told me that he lost his senses with me because I knew too much about him, he's told me too much and got paranoid I would turn on him.
Biggest lesson I learnt:
Relationships force you to really look at yourself, and if you don't like what ou see, the relationship will suffer unless you address it. THIS GOES FOR EVERYONE, EVERYONE. PTSD sufferers are quite aware of the hurt they can cause as much as they are afraid of the same hurt being inflicted on them. That is why he is protecting himself, he's trying to protect you too. Let him be for a while. Work on your self and be sure you like what you see.
Your boyfriends PTSD or PTSS ( It sounds like the later if he really hasn't had a trigger in 8 months) is a lot different to BB though. Combat PTSD and child abuse PTSD have different ways of dealing with things. They have been programmed differently for a start. So comparing BB's reactions with me to your guy make be comparing apples and pears, there are some similarities, but you know, the way BB reacts, or has acted is different. His fears are more to do with abandonment and trust in intimacy. He's not paranoid about the unknown, but he analyses every thing anyone says. He gets worried if I am brief in a text, that he has done something wrong. However the self loathing thing is prevalent in all PTSD suffers, but then it's prevalent in a lot of disorders when you look at obesity, anorexia, bi polar so...
Yeah I do think we have beaten the odds. But there is still a long road. He is really ready for it now though. And so am I, three years ago we were kids, a lot has changed, for both of us. And we spend an hour together everyday on the phone or in emails.
Tread carefully though girl. DO NOT LET HIM TREAT YOU LIKE SHIT. Just do your thing for a while, look after yourself, get to know yourself, be sure you are happy with what you see.