In 'Escape From Intimacy' by Anne Wilson Schaef, she says that at this level, the addict spends much time in fantasied relationships. These differ from romantic fantasies or sexual fantasies in that the focus is not on "moonlight and roses" or sexual liaison.

The fantasy is in being coupled with another person. There is little content to the fantasy other than the coupledness, the need for the belief that theirs is a relationship. Relationship addicts can have a fantasy relationship with someone they know or do not know, and that person can be completely unaware of it.

The line of addiction is crossed when addicts begin to believe in the reality of these fantasies, build their lives around them, let these fantasies interfere with their work, their friends, and their lives , get an addictive "high" from the fantasy relationship, and become confused and withdrawn.

^^^^^

Does this sound like anyone you know?