I experience some of the symptoms that you mentioned in your post, although they are not as severe. I can tell you that, yes, depression and anxiety can definitely cause cognitive issues. For me, I experience the panic attacks, racing heartbeat or chest pain, and it has affected my sleep and my cognitive abilities as well. I also have the racing thoughts. I understand how frustrating that it can be to have limitations when in the past you were fully-functioning.

The suggestions I make are just that. Everyone is different and I am by no means a doctor. You have already stated that you have been to numerous doctors and specialists and that they have ruled out any physical issue that is causing these symptoms. It's hard to accept that depression and anxiety can cause the symptoms that you are experiencing, but they certainly can. Having anxiety and depression is no less legit a condition than any other.

That being said, what I have had to do was limit my use of caffeine and alcohol. I've found that too much caffeine can trigger a panic attack and heart palpitations for me, and that alcohol, while it calmed me down, made me feel worse the next morning. Another thing to consider is that they are both diuretics, which can make you feel bad.

Another thing that I did was write all of the symptoms that I was experiencing and take them to my doctor. Maybe s/he can refer you to a good pdoc. They have way more experience than I do in giving a diagnosis and suggesting what you can do about it. Maybe even copy the post that you wrote and take that to the doctor. I know that, for myself, if I don't write it down that I'll forget to mention some of what I have been experiencing. In order to get the best help possible, your doctor will need to have the whole picture.

I also have a diary in which I write not only the things that are on my mind at any given time, but also when I am experiencing symptoms related to my anxiety and depression. That helps me to keep track of my triggers and also the frequency and severity of my symptoms. I also have a bulletin board for my doctors' appointments so that I don't get them mixed up and so that I have a reminder of when exactly I have them.

If you have a calendar or can make appointments on your phone, that my help. I input when my bills are due and when I have to go to my appointments just to help ease my mind. I've freaked out before wondering if I paid this or that bill, only to have already paid it.

These are some of the ways that I've had to deal with my anxiety and my racing thoughts.

Also, you mentioned trying to go it alone without using meds. Again, I am not a doctor, but there is no shame in needing meds to help you if need be. There are people with heart issues who take beta-blockers. There are diabetics that have to use insulin. No one looks down on those people for doing what they have to do. No one except you or your doctors even have to know that you take them. One of the issues that people (including myself) that have mental disorders is that we self-stigmatize, meaning that we feed into others' misconceptions about MI. That can cause people to suffer needlessly.

These are just some of the things that have helped me. Everyone is different. I hope that some of the things that I mentioned help you, too.