Chewing and ripping apart

Question
but... i'm a full time student..... walk her daily around the neighborhood and spend as much time as i can with her, and also she doesn't like other dogs very much. and well in the summer it was just me and her one on one, can it be she's lonely since school has started? should i continue to keep on the television, radio, and still put the cone on her head? or should i buy like gates and just lock her in one room? or do you have any suggestions?
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I have a two year old female lab/chow chow mix dog. For the first year in a half she was fine, she was crated as a puppy, went in there when we left the house and when we went to bed and during the time we were home, the crate door was left open and she went in and out whenever she pleased. Now at age two, she's out of the crate, and she's starting to be self abusive when no ones home. She'll literally rip the fur right off of her body. We had her to the vet plenty of times, and all they did was give us medication and we had to buy special dog food which was 40.00 for an 8 pound bag. We also bought a cone to go over her head. Also, she has had always a laundry basket full of toys, including plenty of chew ones. Here's a picture of mindy with exactly what i'm talking about : or here's the URL http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i169/jennyxocomstock/0000000000000000000000000  We've tried leaving the tv on or even the stero and nothing seems to work. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME?
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I see no reason not to go back to the crate.  Being at home by yourself and in charge of the whole house, and even needing to respond to things outside is a big, scary responsibility for a dog.  A dog in the crate is in charge of the crate. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
itself.  If you feel bad about shutting her in it, you could try leaving it available with the door open or even removed.  Dogs are different from people.  They derive real security being in an enclosed space.  

I also have to ask if you have reduced the time and attention you give her.  Try to spend more time with her, even if it is just a quiet brushing.  

Have you considered doggy day care?  For the dog, spending the day supervised with other dogs is going to be much better than being at home by itself.

Answer
I don't understand why you aren't going back to the crate.  I don't think gates or locking a dog in one room works near as well as a crate.  And you may have to stick with the cone until she quits chewing at her self.  Also, try leaving her a Kong filled with peanut butter.