I haven't necessarily lost my chops, but I have lost everything resembling confidence, even though I've been playing guitar since 1977, and have been drumming and playing trumpet and other instruments for even longer.
From grade school through high school, college, and the stages in Hollywood on down, I've always been a willing performer. In the late 80s, I was playing gigs as a drummer, bass, guitar, and keyboard player.
But then something happened along the way. Long story short, I got scammed on social networking in late 2013. It ruined my life. I lost just about everything, including my "gigging" band. A labrum tear in early 2014 made sure I'd not be drumming for a few years, so I focused on guitar lessons.
These guitar lessons have put my head in a weird spot. The more I learn, the more I realize I do not know. I've come to accept that the guitar is an instrument that is both eternal and infinite, in that nobody will ever master it.
[and yes, I will ask my guitar teacher about this issue during the next lesson]
I'm afraid to play guitar at the guitar shop, out of fear that someone will hear. After all, the competitive shredders and other "widdily-woo" artists are always better. I fear playing at the open jam, grossly imagining that someone will make a request for something I cannot play, and that will be the end.
Now, after playing out for all of these decades, with a few years off and some lessons, there is that horrible question in my mind.
When will I be good enough?