Stuff Detachment anxiety: Help, I can't throw away pictures with my ex
Hi everyone. I'm reaching nearly 1 year with my partner (whom I intend to marry) and am hoping to throw away some of my old things accumulated in the back of my closet with/ from my ex.
Every time I think about it, a bad panic attack happens, and I have to take my emergency meds. But it's been occurring too frequently now, and I can't keep popping these things. I'm starting to spiral in anxiety and fear that my current partner will eventually realize that I have problems detaching from memento things/ junk in general, despite having completed severance with the person/s associated with them - and leave...?
My partner is quite possessive about me when it comes to these things, as we've had a conversation about this, and they think not burning everything symbolizes a lack of dedication to the present and being stuck in the past. But that's just not the case, and I don't know how to "prove" to him that it's a misunderstanding or what my true motivations are for just keeping random stuff (side info: I have severe memory loss issues due to chronic illness and stress and keeping things provides a sense of safety, even if the specific thing/ person isn't memory worthy)
Honestly, I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to little mementos and trinkets such as confession letters from peeps in high school, etc., though they have no practical function but to be fun things to collect (and as some remnants of my youth when I'm older)
Any advice on how to ease the anxiety or fix this "problem" (or if its even a problem) would be much appreciated!!