Situationships are old news, ‘delusionship’ is Gen Z’s new buzzword: Are you trapped in a fantasy romance?

Just when you thought dating couldn’t get more confusing, the internet births a new term: delusionship. If “situationship” defined the past few years—a vague, label-free entanglement filled with uncertainty—delusionship takes that ambiguity and adds a heavy dose of fantasy, illusion, and unreciprocated obsession.

Coined from the word “delusion,” a delusionship is essentially a relationship that exists only in your mind. It’s when you're emotionally invested in someone who either doesn’t know you exist or couldn’t care less about you. Yet, you’ve built castles in the sky with them, imagined romantic holidays, or replayed a two-second eye contact like it was a marriage proposal.

The Psychology Behind Fantasized Romance

According to dating experts and therapists, delusionships are more than just harmless daydreams. They can be emotionally damaging. As per a report from Glamour, Dr. Caroline West, dating coach at Bumble, explains that it’s about attaching meaning to someone who has no active presence in your life—like the stranger you see daily on the metro or someone you matched with on a dating app but never met.

And while a crush is natural and fleeting, a delusionship sinks deeper. According to a report from The Knot, therapist Leanna Stockard says the key difference is idealization: “With a delusionship, we fantasize our life with someone and create an exaggerated version of who they are.”

When Fantasy Becomes a Trap

The danger lies in what you sacrifice for this make-believe romance. When your emotional energy is consumed by a relationship that only exists in your imagination, it blocks you from forming real, healthy connections. Even worse, if your imagined partner starts dating someone else, it can trigger real heartbreak and misplaced anger.

Delusionships often blur into parasocial relationships—those one-sided attachments we form with influencers or celebrities. The emotional impact, though, can be just as powerful as a real breakup, even if the other person never engaged with you beyond a "like."

Signs You’re Deep in a Delusionship

You’re constantly decoding every interaction for hidden romantic meaning. You replay conversations or messages repeatedly, convincing yourself there's more beneath the surface. You stalk their social media hoping for signs. You imagine a future together despite never having an actual conversation.

Maybe you believe your situationship is headed somewhere serious—when in reality, the other person is dating openly, showing no signs of commitment. Delusionships thrive in this ambiguity, breeding false hope in the gaps of silence.

Why It’s Time to Log Out of Fantasy Mode

If you're wondering whether your feelings are based in reality or a story you've written in your head, it might be time to check yourself. Emotional availability, mutual engagement, and consistent communication are the bedrock of real relationships—anything less is often a mirage.

Experts suggest grounding yourself in reality, limiting screen time, and focusing on friendships and hobbies that feed your emotional well-being. Remember: romantic fantasy is fine until it becomes your default emotional home.