This is my first time opening up on here... any advice helps

So I've been dating my boyfriend for a few months now. he's 20, I'm 17, soon turning 18 so it's okay girls. anyways, He has been through so much growing up, both his parents abounded him few days after being born, and was taken in by his aunt, he was never really shown love from anyone but his aunt and family.. I met him at my house party, he had offered to dj that night for free lol, We clicked right away.. I opened up to him about everything, and he told me everything about him. We're loving, young, and adventurous. 
we both have been through so much that We balanced eachother out, I was there for his first melt down, when he thought Noone loved him, I was there through every step. that was 1 month into our relationship, yes.. I know I was attached to soon, but who could blame me, He's my everything, and I couldn't see him hurt. we overcame that and I thought he was doing better. I got him working, and kept him occupied. Few months later, we had our first little argument, I couldn't sleep that night. It was over him choosing his friends over me, I knew they weren't up to good. Well that same night at 4am he texts me saying we needed to talk.. I replied in the morning, asking "about what?".. He said us, and long paragraph short, he asked for time. He said he needed time for himself, that he got lost and didn't want to hurt me in the process of finding himself. that lasted about a week, it hurt and I cried cause there wasn't anything I could do but respect his decision.. we're back together, but not really how it used to be, he was always loving, always wanting to spend time with me, I felt like a priority. But now it's whenever he wants, when he has time, don't get me wrong, he's not some asshole.. Atleast I don't see it that way, I just don't know what to do, am I better off just backing off and give him the time he had originally asked for? Or should I stick by his side and help him?