We're slowly making progress. I talked to a couple trainers at the Vet and they said to just pretend like nothing is wrong and not to acknowledge the fear as that will just make her think there is something to be afraid of after all. They said to sit with her in the room until she stops shaking and panting. Not to let her out, but just sit calmly with her and do something on the side so I am not tempted to coddle her. I was able to keep her in the room for about 15 minutes. She would only shake off/on so I think we're making progress. This weekend we have to move into the room as my company is coming, so hopefully with time she won't be so freaked out. I got to thinking back about what happened a year ago when she started being so afraid of that room. As I recall I had 3 special events for work all in a row in which I did not get home till 8 or 9 PM. I had arranged for someone to let her out to potty and spend a little time with her, but they forgot all three times.
(needless to say I don't rely on her anymore......) So anyway she was left locked up in that room alone for 14.5 hours!! I would be traumatized too....After the last experience she wouldn't let me hold her for 2 months and refused to go into that room anymore. I finally got her to trust me again, and now she happily walks back to the master bedroom and goes to sleep while I go to work. Since our bad experience I take her to doggy daycare whenever I have to work late. I KNOW she is being taken care of there.
I don't put it past her to be seeing spooky things in that room either. We have had some creepy stuff happening. I don't believe in ghosts, but there is definitely something going on at night, but it is in the whole house.