My mind keeps reminding me it isn't real

I have been using daydreaming as a coping mechanism since I could remember. I started to develop Maladaptive Daydreaming when I was in middle school. Since then, it has been a constant thing I do. It's been my happy place. It has affected me negatively, like having a significant increase in procrastination. But despite that, I have been incredibly thankful for it as it's been a good escapism for me, especially when I had a major OCD episode a few years ago. It's not an exaggeration when I say daydreaming has saved my life.

But recently my mind keeps reminding me that it isn't real. My mind keeps reminding me on how I am wasting all of my time in my head. I have this intricate daydream of a different life where I have a girlfriend that brings me so much comfort. But now every time I think about it I am brought back to reality and feel this crushing emptiness.

I don't know why my mind is doing this. Am I moving on from Maladaptive Daydreaming? Is it my mind trying to take away a comfort of mine? OCD tends to do that; take something that you find comfort in and twist it in a way that makes you feel miserable. I don't want to lose daydreaming. I have no idea what other methods I would start to use to cope with instead, if any. I don't know what life will be like without my daydreams.

I feel such an emptiness in my chest.