It's a very valid comparison. When every decision is made for you and you are not allowed to develop your own personality, make your own mistakes and pursue your own dreams, it keeps you from growing and developing as a person. When every problem has a simplistic solution (pray, study, meetings, service) you don't learn to develop your own problem solving skills. In a way your life was stolen from you.
You will never get those years back, all you can do is take what lessons you have learned and apply them to the life you have now. As horrible as some of my experiences were, it did ultimately make me a stronger person, and I have used those strengths to build a better life. Just being able to see through the lies get up the courage to leave is an act of remarkable personal growth and a good start on becoming a whole person again.