How horrible for you all.
You didn't say how old she is. Gracie would act some like this with her teething and also when she'd be going through a growth spurt. She'd get all clingy and whiney, never did the screaming thing, but she sleeps in bed with us and would whine and moan a bit at times. Since she calmed down when you sat with her on the couch seems to me to say that she is just lonely. Combine that with perhaps not feeling well and the only way she has of letting you know is to scream. Could you move her crate into the bedroom close to your bed so that you could reach out to her if she starts to whine? Being pack animals the desire to be with their pack is great. It could be she is just really starting to realize that she's alone at night and simply wants to be with ya'll. Hope tonight goes better for everyone.
