I've tried to begin responding with something helpful several times, but thinking about dealing with anxiety is exhausting in itself sometimes. I realize what helps one person may not be shit to another, but in hopes that it may help you or someone else, I'd like to share what has helped me.
I completely agree with this
Like you, I could hardly eat for a period of time, to the point that I lost quite a bit of weight in a matter of 2-3 months. I was away at school, and walking to the dining hall was too difficult for me both because it was an anxiety trigger, and because I had become too weak to make the 1/4 mile walk easily. When I did manage to get food, my throat would become dry. I would chew and chew, but even swallowing lunch meat was difficult. Making and eating meals with a friend helped me a lot. They distracted me from my feelings of anxiousness while eating, and their consistent company meant that I couldn't just decide to skip meals for days. If you have someone in your life whom you can tell about these issues, and s/he can be available to have a meal with you daily, I think that could help a lot. If not, and for the times you have difficulty with solids, I suggest you try Glucerna shakes. They're often used in hospitals, have a ton of nutritional value, and I think they can help you maintain basic health during this time. Especially with anxiety/depression, what we put into our bodies can significantly affect our minds, and you sound like you need a lot more sustenance.
I get the same dryness in my throat too, it is the worst by myself. If I am with friends and can have my mind off of it, it helps a whole lot. I feel like I get almost too much comfort from this though, because when I am by myself, it makes me want someone around incase I panic, so I have became dependent on being able to eat and drink only when someone is with me :/
Redirecting my thoughts has also been vital. For me, a huge part of my anxiety is social, and has been so since I can remember. Idk about you, but my "logical" mind would "justify" my anxiety by creating/magnifying potential issues. My anxiety was not the result of logical thoughts. Instead, my anxiety took hold of my mind and made it focus on negativity, both imagined and real. So, like tonight, to be honest, I have a feeling of dread about going into my 9-5 tomorrow. But that line right there is all I'm going to give that feeling. It has been difficult, but acknowledging that thoughts about that dread are manifestations of my anxiety and not just "me" is important. I've noticed that I just feel... different? when I am within the grips of major anxiety. I am not quite myself. And that's the important part. There is me, and there is anxiety, and we often overlap in my mind, but only I should control my anxiety, not the other way around--and the same goes for you. When I feel anxiety coming over me, I redirect my thoughts. This can happen in a number of ways, or more often, a combination of them. Instead of repeating to myself that I don't want to _____, I mentally say that I am excited about that thing/event. I know it sounds cheesy and self-helpy as shit, but it actually helps a little. I mean, yeah, you know you're "lying," but just refusing to give your anxiety control of your conscious thoughts is a good step.
I like your idea. I have found one thing that helps me is to kind of fight it, if I can explain this correctly, If I am having trouble doing something I really want to do, any my anxiety is controlling me and not letting me, I actually tell myself in my head how weak I am for letting the anxiety take that much control, and that I'm nothing because I give in so easy. I guess you can say this is kind of a reverse psychology thing because I don't really believe these things, but mentally it helps fight off the anxiety by giving myself more will power to want to fight it
I also redirect my thoughts by getting the fuck up and doing something. Running is a great option, as is biking, yoga, etc. I agree with NM that you should start trying to meditate.
Have you read anything about dialectical behavior therapy?
I have been studying meditation and trying to get in a more relaxed state, I would like to try yoga as well after I get meditating down more. I haven't ever heard of dialectical behavior therapy, but I am going to go research it 
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