I (F26) have an anxious attachment style, my boyfriend (M27) is secure — my anxiety, stress, and health issues are affecting our relationship. How can I best handle this without pushing him away?

I (F26) have an anxious attachment style, and my boyfriend (M27) tends to be more on the secure side. We’ve been together for a little over a year and live together. Things between us are good overall, but lately it’s been a really difficult time for me emotionally.

A few months ago, I found out that I got HPV from him, and I now have to go through biopsies and possibly surgery. It’s been a huge emotional weight to carry, especially combined with my upcoming exams and general life pressure.

Because of all the stress, my anxiety has gotten a lot worse. I find myself overthinking everything he says or does — if he seems distant or quiet, I immediately assume it means he’s lost feelings for me. I end up over-communicating about it and apologizing constantly, which is draining for both of us.

We talked about it today, and he said it’s very tiring for him because he feels like he’s constantly on high alert trying to fix my mood. He also said he understands that I’m under a lot of stress and anxiety, which I really appreciate.

I told him that I want to focus more on myself — working on being less reactive, putting more energy into school, and letting myself sit with my emotions instead of expecting reassurance. I also mentioned that if things don’t improve, I might move back to my own apartment for a month or two to focus on my exams and health, and to give both of us some space to breathe.

For some background, there were trust issues early in the relationship (he wasn’t loyal at the very start), which probably adds to my anxiety. I’m also in therapy and trying to apply what I learn. I love him deeply and want this relationship to work, but I also don’t want to burn him out emotionally.

My question:
What are some healthy ways I can manage my anxiety in this situation and create more emotional balance in our relationship? Would taking temporary space to focus on myself be a constructive step, or are there better ways to handle this without stepping away completely?

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TL;DR:
I (F26) have an anxious attachment style, and my boyfriend (M27) is secure. After getting HPV from him (which now requires biopsies/surgery), plus exam stress, my anxiety has spiked. I overthink everything he says and feel like I’m pushing him away. I want to work on being less reactive and maybe take some space to focus on my health and studies — wondering how to handle this in the healthiest way for both of us.