Thanks everyone, yes, love is funny and strange. I think the argument helped us both learn a little about each other - and ourselves. I knew I loved her with all my heart, but it's very hard to judge what is acceptable and what isn't. I don't feel that either of us is completely to blame, but her stress and my stress combined made it difficult on each of us.
This past week, my g/f and I have spent a lot of time together and it's been nothing short of incredible. We are both very much in love and I think we now know just how much. We've only become stronger and have a much better awareness of when buttons can get pushed. Even though I don't want to say it was all her doing, she did tell me that some of the things I said to her held some truth and that she wanted to work on them. She's been awesome, and I've been much more relaxed around her ... not walking on eggshells like I was for a couple weeks there.
So I guess I have egg on my face for starting this thread the way I did, but I was very upset and I guess that was how I felt at the time. I can handle the PTSD, but when it all barrels down on me I have to raise the flag and surrender to myself first. She knows now that sometimes she can trigger emotions in me, too, and that my reaction is a defense mechanism and not an attack on her. I think she just wasn't used to having a guy so close to her, and her comfort zone was closing in on her. But she does tell me that she likes having me there, and that she trusts me fully. We've both been single for a while and are a little stubborn and set in our ways, but we are very good together, and others see it too.
We are both very happy now and I'm still in love with a very beautiful woman. Thanks to you all for the thoughts and encouragement, it helped me more than you can know!
