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It seems like you are at the stage of graded exposure.
It’s ok to deal with confronting your symptoms in increments. There can be a lot of self pressure on top of the fear and catastrophizing. It can take time (years for myself) working towards many physical goals. That’s ok.
I elongated my own ability to sit and eat a few ways. I began to have how fast I was eating and slowed down to keep pace with others. Made sure I swallowed before drinking. When I eat alone I do a crossword puzzle so help me distract my mind at the time and to help me sit a few minutes longer. Then I tried to stay 5 minutes of conversation after the meal. When I could manage an extra 15 minutes I began trying to go a fairly fast service cafe to eat that was a close drive. Then we tried my favorite place which is on a rooftop -3 flights of stairs.
Then I tried some other sitting that was hard for me: putting on shoes, doing seated exercises, sitting doing tasks like preparing meals etc
Each time I used Claire Weekes methods.
Some days now when it is very hard I put on headphones and listen to a favorite mind/body podcast for encouragement (not one that discusses symptoms!), other times I try not to and focus on my thoughts.
Through this you can journal about how this makes you feel, perhaps what it reminds you of in your past.