I just want to add one more thing to alot of good responses. When we are dealing with issues from our childhood, often the emotions are primitive and intense and remembering them can make us feel very young and like we don't have access to some or all of our adult resources. And that can make it feel like you've lost ground when you really haven't. I think of therapy like peeling an onion, you keep circling around but going to a deeper level each time. And by the time you get to the center you're pretty smelly. (Sorry, couldn't resist the last line.)