DD2 who is now 18 mths old has always gone thru this type of stage on and off since about 6 mths. I have always thought (hoped) that it was down to teething as it always started a few weeks before teth popped thru, then stopped when they had cut, then would have a week or two of settling fine and sleping okay. Then it would all start again.
I tried letting her scream, picking up and cuddling, and all sorts. They are all different and I found that what worked for her was normal bedtime routine, story with DD1, kisses, cuddles, then into bed. Whereupon she would scream as if I had dumped her into a lava pit. Then I would leave the room. I would wait for about 10 secs, felt longer was unfair on DD1 lying trying to get to sleep. Then when I went back in I would not look at her in the eye, or talk at all. I picked her up, lay her down, covered her up and left the room again in very business like manner. Sometimes shushing helped. This could go on for up to 30 or 40 mins sometimes at the worst, but after a couple of weeks, and it was quite heartbreaking, she realised that once she was in bed she would get no attention like that, bedtime was bedtime.
It may sound cruel, but I have always been strict with bedtime. She still tries it on everynow and again, but knows she will get no where and gives up after a couple of trips in, plus she's older. As Squonk said, she is young and could well be having trouble seperating, but as you said, you are making a rod.
It is up to you. I tried many ways before I found this, sort of, worked, and it really was the only thing that did work.