A phone will not help if one hit to your head finishes you off. Or, if you are busy defending yourself, how can you access the phone?

Maybe you can take some martial arts classes to strengthen your balance and give you some skills.

Krav Maga is designed for close in conflicts.

Learning some hand and arm grips/holds would be worthwhile. My brother taught my daughter some hand grips and holds that she can use for protection. The right grip and disable and almost paralyze and attacker.

It may help you deal with the anxiety, too.

I agree about the phone thing. My employer had banned us from carrying cell phones but I neglected to tell her my attacker grabbed mine right out of my hand as I tried to call for help

My sons in karate maybe I could speak with his sensei