anxiety attacks or real health problem?

So I know this is a dumb place to be asking this because you're all going to tell me to see a doctor. It's just that i'm not convinced anything is serious enough to see a doctor for and am worried it's all just in my head.

Anyway, I was laying in bed about a week ago when I had this sudden, sharp pain in my chest that made me catch my breath (couldn't breathe). It went away after a few seconds and I thought nothing of it. This happened to me a hundred times when I was younger (early teens). Sharp quick pain, can't breathe then it's gone. But in the days following that I've been having these "attacks". It started with this feeling that my heart just wasn't beating right then i'd start getting light headed and a hot flash would wash over me and i'd start to sweat. I'd calm down for awhile, still feeling like my chest was tight and having a strong awareness of my heart. It comes and go and makes me feel really anxious. I only notice it when I'm sitting down or not doing anything so mostly I feel like it's mental. I've cut down on caffeine and sugar substitute from my diet. No more coffee, no more diet coke, no more tea with splenda. It seems to happen most frequently in the afternoon but last night it happened a couple hours after dinner but I did have one cup of coffee yesterday morning. At first I was really concerned I had a heart problem, maybe even a heart attack. But now I think it's just panic attacks or maybe even blood sugar problems? I have family history of diabetes but not heart disease. Lately I've been eating really healthy and exercising. I'm slightly overweight but not obese.

I guess I'm just wondering if anybody else has experienced things like this? Did you have it checked out? I really do feel like it's mental and am hoping that by hearing other stories where nothing was physically wrong I can make it go away. Thanks for any help or suggestions!