Dear Snowsunshine:
I think I might have a similar experience. I sometimes have emotions like sadness and fear sort of sweep over me like a wave without regard to what I am consciously thinking. My chest will feel weird (I think it's a mild panic attack) or I'll have a more obvious type of panic attack. I'm hardly an expert but your symptoms sound like anxiety or depression (or both). When you read some of the postings here, you realize that we are not alone in what we are experiencing. Sending you hugs. Myst