Yeah, my partner isn't usually like that unless things are bad, but if he gets startled awake it takes him an hour or two to fully relax after so it's definitely not a good way to start the day, especially if i need something urgently. I usually get in bed next to him and rub his back, that way he sort of understands it's me.

Apparently, a little while after he got back, his ex wife thought she could wake him up aggressively in front of their friends (he was dozing on the couch or something) and they all fold her not to but she thought it would be different for her. It was not. Apparently it didn't end well. He's not usually violent though, just easily startled.