The comfort that people get from religion is often a crutch that keeps them from giving themselves credit for their own strength and allows them to make excuses so that they may avoid dealing with reality.
If "avoid dealing with reality" you mean those fundamentalists that, in spite of the evidence to the contrary, believe the earth was created in seven days, or that there was a global flood and Noah herded two of every animal onto an arc, then yes, I agree with you.
As we become older, we are expected to become more and more independent. It would be strange, would it not, to see a 22 year old man run crying to his mother when he stubbed his toe, wouldn't it?
Of course it would. Those that pray to their Lord for what appear to me to be superficial or trivial matters, such as "stubbing one's toe", would be strange.
But what if a worshipper, raised in the climate of their religion and believed in the power of prayer, didn't stub their toe? rather they lost their wife or husband? daughter or son? a family member or friend very dear to them?
They are under excessive stress, pain and suffering. Their head throbs and heart aches. They pray to whomever they pray to to relieve some of the pain. Regardless if they believe their prayers are answered or heard, the fact is when they cite what troubles them, they are often using a form of intropection. They come to better understand themselves and how they feel. This may very well calm them and give them some sort of solace; just a moment's peace.
Are we to tell them that they should "be more independent"? To "stop making excuses and avoid dealing with reality"?