2 questions, one about labor, the other about emotions?

First of all, I'm 38 1/2 weeks pregnant. Yesterday around 5 pm, contractions were a steady 10 mins apart. They got around 7-8 by 8 pm or so, and by 10 pm they were every 5 minutes, accompanied by very strong back pain. I was having lots of pushing down pressure during them as well. I was sure I was going to be heading to the hospital. But then I tried laying down for a bit to try to relax and the intensity and pain eased up some and never got any worse. So I went to sleep.

Now it's nearly 10 am and I'm still having contractions about every 5-10 minutes and lots of back pain and I can tell his head is lower in my pelvis than it was yesterday, I can feel the pressure has lowered. But my contractions aren't getting more and more painful. I have noticed that I'm having a wetter than normal discharge that is watery, but I don't think I'm leaking because it's not that much. Lots of pain in my upper inner thighs too. I know nobody can predict when a baby will come, but do you think, based on these symptoms, that it will be soon, like in the next few days at least? I'm sooooo miserable and i'm so anxious to be done with pregnancy!!

Other question: last night when I was having so much pain, I also got very dizzy and sick to my stomach and I went from feeling like "oh, I hope this is it!" to having a near panic attack at the idea of being in labor. I had a bad experience with my last child and I have had a lot if anxiety about this birth because of it, but up until I thought it was time, I felt confident I was ready to handle it. But then last night I was crying and scared. Any suggestions on trying to relax more and stop worrying?

Thanks. :-)