My daydreams aren’t working anymore and im scared

Im 22 years old and ive been relying on fiction as a coping mechanism my whole life. projecting onto characters i related to and making them fund comfort in my head was my comfort too, it was all i had.

recently it hasnt been working though, for some reason im unable to allow myself to relate to them like i used to, its like im all too aware that this was only just fiction and ive been delusional. its sounds ridiculous but every day has been hell for me because of this, i dont just feel empty i feel grief like my life has lost all meaning, ive thrown up a couple of times from the loss. no matter what i do my coping mechanism isnt helpimg anymore.

I can’t imagine a life without fiction, what if it can never be part of my life again. i feel so scared