That other little nasty that plagues so many of us for no apparent reason - ANXIETY. What you are describing sounds very much like a panic attack. Personally, and this is a very personal opinion, I would rather be treated for anxiety than depression because the medications don't seem to make as many major alterations in your chemistry as the antidepressants do.. Can't back that up with science, it's just my experience.

I never could reconcile myself to depression because I felt like I was pretty happy, all things considered, until I was in the grips of one of those retched little episodes. My doc figured it out and I haven't had one in a long time.

Good luck,
Pam