Welcome to the forum Nonie, lovely to have you and I am glad you decided to post. You are correct; there is much support and good information upon this forum for those who will avail themselves of it.

Your boyfriend's symptoms do indeed sound like PTSD, however it would be best if he were evaluated by a qualified professional. That is the only way for him to know for certain, and self-diagnosis is not a wise idea. Not to mention, a diagnosis means he can be properly treated and may be entitled to certain benefits as well. Ultimately his decision though naturally. From what you say it sounds as though he may not be ready for such a step.

Now from what I understand, he is currently deployed? You have been discussing your relationship and highly emotional matters with him whilst he is deployed? As a military wife myself, I must say, that is not a wise idea in my opinion. Whilst a soldier is deployed, he is in a very different mindset than when he is home. He is under a tremendous amount of pressure constantly. It is unfair to expect him to make certain emotional decisions whilst in that state of mind. I know many soldiers whilst deployed receive "Dear John" letters and such, it is most common, however I have always thought it rather unkind, to put it mildly. They are in a different world over there, and whilst you should be truthful to them in your communications, certain issues are best left to when they return home. At least that is my personal feeling and opinion, from years of experience.

The episodes you describe of yourself sound very much like panic attacks and general anxiety. They could very well be caused from your current stress and worry. Again however, it would be best to be evaluated by a professional, to rule out anything physical. If you are having panic attacks, there are certain breathing and relaxation exercises which can be helpful. Learning positive self-talk can also be helpful. To get you started, try reading the following posts in the Information section:

Pain Reduction Through Breathing

Relieving Hyperventilation (Over-Breathing)

Brief Instructions for Sitting Meditation

Self-Talk, Subpersonalities and Counterstatements

There are several more which may be helpful; especially in the Anxiety and the Pain Management sections. In any event, welcome to the forum once again, do take care and well done for sharing.