Imaginary friends (and lovers)

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So far, I've not seen this subject mentioned here, much less anywhere else on the interwebs.
How many of y'all have imaginary friends and/or lovers?
There's a reason I ask this. Back in high school, I created an imaginary person based on a local tv news reporter because I pondered what my ideal girl would look like. Soon, she went from being a daydream to my coping mechanism whenever real people would reject me (which was every time I tried to tell someone I liked them). Eventually, I gave up on real people and put my hope in this imaginary soul. I know it's not the most healthy thing, but it sure kept me from making some bad decisions.

How do you feel having an imaginary lover worked out for you?

I still have several elaborate fantasy worlds (usually the worlds tend to plagiarise a particularly nerdy fandom of mine) and I will always be suspiciously confident in them, with many awesome friends. Several of the 'friends' tend to show up in each world I'll daydream in, as if each always carries a few fake IDs on their person. It's very much a way to remove myself from reality. It's not helpful but I couldn't think of a time when I won't have these worlds as they're my ultimate comfort zones. I suppose, as long as it doesn't inhibit day to day functioning everyone needs to fantasize a little, no pun intended.

I never had imaginary friends & I wouldn't exactly say I have/had an imaginary lover but I had/have a huge celebrity crush & fantasized about being with her a lot.

I live in a tin can with me and myself, we interact in mirrors and other shiny reflective surfaces. sometimes we argue. but we always make up later. as long as we're together I can hold it together. I would like them to be in heaven with me at the appointed time.

I had an imaginary girlfriend for the longest time. I was 13 years old when I "created" her, and it didn't start going away until I was at least 19.

why did you have to let her go, if you don't mind me asking?

I think that its safe to assume that the reason was: because he grew up and got a life, or at least got mature enough to TRY to get a life (and a real gf).

You'd be correct.

I wish I knew how to get a life

Surprisingly well, actually. Said soul created a gold standard that otherwise wouldn't have been there, and kept me from settling for the wrong person. When I do wind up with a real person, this imaginary soul is usually in my mind somewhere. Also, they kept me from being completely hopeless during those times when I felt completely unwanted (romantically, platonically, and sexually).

Crystaltermination's situation is similar to a world of mine that preceded this person, and I still visit that one from time to time, but not as much since I've grown up. That one tends to be a more idealised version of the world with less conflict and awkwardness. That scenario I can more easily give up.

I fantasize a lot about being in relationships with certain guys to the point to where it's like an imaginary relationship. They aren't guys who I make up in my head, but real people. It's usually someone who I feel like I might be able to relate to and sometimes it's even with famous people. I sometimes feel like I fantasize too much, but it is comforting. It sometimes helps me to cope with loneliness and rejection.

I do the same thing.

That's so cool. I've done something very similar since I was really little. You're the first person I've ever heard talk about doing it too.

I tried having an imaginary girlfriend, but it didn't work out. It quickly became apparent that such a woman wouldn't want to waste her time on a loser like me, and so the illusion was shattered.

I've always suspected it's something more people do than they're willing to admit, but haha, for all I know being an aspie blows these worlds out of proportion in terms of detail and if I'm honest, time. I would have been lost if I didn't have my time alone with my imagination as a child. I guess if it's an excellent coping mechanism then, why would the brain ditch it as an adult?