One of my friends has been 'talking to' a man on Messenger/WhatsApp since the beginning of August, characterised by him blocking her, then messaging her and apologising. They've not met in person but have spoken in phone calls, she says they 'have feelings' for each other and can't avoid it any more. I don't know what the content of the messages are, or why he's blocked her, as she wouldn't say, but she was in tears over it last night.
I asked if they had had plans to meet and she said it was complicated, she seemed unwilling to talk but said that the guy is a carer for his brother who has multiple health issues and he couldn't leave the brother nor use the car for personal reasons (guess it is a Motability one). She didn't want to talk further about it other than to say "I bet you think I'm stupid."
This is not the first time this has happened though. She's had the same thing happen at least three times where she becomes overinvested through romantic and sexual chat with people she has never met, and then is devastated when it ends, usually by them blocking or ghosting her. She doesn't learn from experience, sadly.
Other than to say I feel it is impossible to develop feelings for someone you've never met in real life, except for the illusion that can occur through this method of communication, I've said little - for fear of saying the wrong thing.
What would be your suggestions? Other than to sit back and watch it all implode again as I don't see a good outcome here?
She is a very needy person, constantly looking for validation from men that she is attractive and desirable.