IT DEPENDS.

It depends on the therapy. A good psychodynamic therapist may be able to help you get into a safe place before dealing with your problems, and while yes, life is harder in therapy, it's also better because there's more of me present. I cope better. It's taken a long time, but I'm doing well with it. If your therapy only makes things worse, you need a different therapist- expect to visit a few before you find one you're comfortable with, but remember you're not looking for a friend, but a therapist- someone who knows what they're doing.

You have the right to guide your therapy, asking to work on present life issues first, coping strategies, etc.