This is a great thread, thanks so much for this, Vertigo affects lots of people.
I had and have still today the same exact symtoms of everything you are desribing, if first happen to me when i was 25 now iam 45 and it still happens from time to time, i had found out with my condition that it has alot to do with sudden head or eye movement for me.
The first time this happen to me, i was certain i had a brain tumor, i was bowling and bent over to hit the reset button at the same time i twisted my head very fast to the right to see if anymore pins had fallen down and bam it hit me and scared the living shit out of me.
It has stricken me while i was sleeping a couple of time, after each time i had flip my body over from side to side way to fast, now i sleep almost straight up in my recliner everynite and
for over 2 years and it has never happen once while sleeping like that.
I cant lay my head flat down never because it will happen, .
I dont know hom many time i was weight training, laying on the bench and it attacked me, now thats some real scary shit benching heavy weights and this happening to you.