our rescue, sheeba, was/is like this also. when we got her she was very unstable, but we've had her for a year and a half now and she's almost completely turned around. she does still cower if things get loud, but the second she realizes things aren't going to "get her" she's fine. when we do scold her, and she pouts, we ignore her. we don't promote the behavior by giving her affection, but then we don't not scold her for that behavior either, we just ignore it. we feel she needs to know she doesn't need to do that behavior, and there will not be any "oh poor baby" because she shows instability. so far, it's worked great for her, and helped her confidence level by not babying her and letting her learn to calm herself. hold fast, things will work!