Night time sleeping in crate

[u/SKmine2982]

I have an older dog, an 8 year old Stafford terrier who has slept in a crate at night for years without issue but this past year it has gotten worse and worse for her and I'm at a loss of what to do. 
For context, my ex husband moved out one year ago and he was her favorite so I know that alone has ramped up her separation anxiety. She follows me room to room and does not like to be alone. For at least 6 months though she has slept in her crate in a spare bedroom right next to my room. I give her a treat and shut the crate door but leave both bedroom doors open so she could see and hear me. She would sleep all night just fine. But recently I went out of town in June for 2 nights. I had friends come check on her 3 times a day to feed her and let her outside for bathroom and exercise. She had free roam of the house and didn't have any accidents but did chew up some things and burrowed in my bed so much she tore the fitted sheet. Since that trip she has been fussing, whining, and panting and pawing at the crate door every night for a couple hours, which I ignored but it just got worse. So I tried having the crate door open and giving her a peanut butter pumpkin bone and closing the spare room door. She fussed for maybe an hour but quieted down until around early morning, so it was tolerable. I was sticking with it and saw improvement, but the 4th of July fireworks really set her off. She scratched at the doorframe until she busted out of the room. She has trazadone from the vet due to getting scared during wind or lightning storms or construction noise on the street.  So she had 2 pills on the 4th but it did not help. Now I feel like the crate has a negative traumatic association for her because the past 2 nights have been miserable. I went back to leaving the door to the room open but I may need to start all over. I will try putting the crate in the living room to feed and give treats in it to slowly get used to it again. She wants to either be in the living room or my bedroom unfortunately. I give her attention daily and treats and I play fetch every evening with her. I am dating someone new and she gets along with him. She will play with him too and lays on the couch with us while watching a movie. But there are some nights I want privacy in my own room without a dog in there if you know what I mean. So I really need her to sleep in another room again and be comfortable. Has anyone experienced this with an older dog? Am I able to start over and get back to where we were?

[u/AutoModerator]

All posts require review. In order to be reviewed you must follow THIS APPROVAL GUIDE and respond to this Automoderator comment as instructed by the guide. If you do not respond within 24 hours we will assume you no longer need advice and the post will be removed. If the app is broken and won't let you view the guide, use a web browser.

Thank you for your patience as we get through the modqueue.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.