AI Companions and Mental Health: Why Virtual Friends Can’t Replace Real Human Connection and Support

The internet has rapidly transformed over the years, with a recent change being the introduction of conversational artificial intelligence (AI) models that users often turn to as confidants, friends, or even therapists. One study published by Harvard Business Review found that the leading reason for AI use in 2025 is therapy or companionship.¹ This trend is especially prevalent among adolescents: 72% of adolescents have used AI companions like Replika, Character.AI, and Nomi, and nearly one-third of teens use AI for social interactions or relationships.² 

One potential reason explaining the rise of AI technology is that talking to a program that can adapt its responses to suit your needs or provide the illusion of certainty in a confusing world can feel comforting. Additionally, these programs are always available to provide emotional support, and users don’t have to worry about being too burdensome or feeling judged for being vulnerable. However, relying on AI companionship can not only indicate loneliness but perpetuate it, as avoidance and isolation become easier to embrace.

Here’s a look at AI companionship, its mental health implications, and why turning to it as a form of mental health support can be so dangerous.

Understanding What Make AI Companions Appealing: Why People Turn to Digital Relationships

In a world where we are paradoxically more digitally connected yet more socially isolated than ever, one can understand the appeal of AI companions. Here are some reasons why people may be turning to AI models for connection or comfort.

Common motivations for AI companion usage

Human relationships and emotional connection can be difficult to navigate, especially for those already dealing with social anxiety, depression, and low self-worth. Rejection, judgment, abandonment, miscommunications, and unreciprocated affection can hurt, and this pain can sometimes shape people’s worldview in negative ways. On the other hand, virtual companions are always available with an internet connection, validate your feelings without challenge, avoid confronting your opinions, and “listen” to your emotional needs — or at least provide that illusion.

While this can feel comforting, it may actually perpetuate mental health struggles by making human interactions seem difficult by comparison, causing people to retreat back to the safety of AI. The result is a cycle where mental health struggles drive people toward the refuge of AI companionship, while lack of genuine human connection further strengthens the grip of these struggles. 

AI sycophancy

Users familiar with AI models may know that their answers often are overly agreeable, especially when the user’s intentions are clear, and can sometimes prioritize compliance over factual accuracy. This tendency toward agreeing with users — otherwise termed “AI sycophancy” — makes sense when you examine AI’s design. 

AI is programmed to receive positive user feedback as a reward, adapting to individual personality traits and emotional needs by attempting to mimic empathy, which means it may be reluctant to push back on potentially problematic perspectives. The result is a user experience that is often more frictionless than typical human interactions, perpetuating unrealistic expectations of genuine companionship.³ 

AI romance and relationships

The motivations of AI companionship don’t end there. Although rare, it’s becoming increasingly common for people to turn toward AI models as a romantic companion. A Guardian story covered several cases of women developing romantic AI relationships, with some going as far as to get commemorative tattoos of their AI companion, adding them to group calls with loved ones, and even deeming them their “AI husband” — spending more time with them than their real husband.⁴ Additionally, a CNN report detailed the growing rift in a husband and wife’s 14-year marriage as the husband became consumed with ChatGPT’s “love bombing,” believing its narrative that they had been together “11 times in a past life” and leading the husband to become increasingly distant.⁵

These stories highlighted the reasons the profiled individuals were drawn toward AI romance: judgment-free validation, predictable responses, constant love bombing, and lack of relationship conflicts. However, the articles also noted the serious consequences of AI romantic relationships, including withdrawal from genuine human connections, susceptibility to follow harmful advice, and increased emotional dependence. 

Understanding Your Options: Mental Health Treatments We Offer

The Mental Health Risks: When Virtual Companionship Becomes Harmful

Despite the appeal of AI companionship, turning toward large language models as a substitute for human connection or professional therapy can come with serious risks, particularly for those with mental health struggles who believe AI support is sufficient.

Sycophancy vs. genuine therapeutic support

AI models are incentivized to be sycophantic, offering agreeable responses to gain your trust and increase engagement. This constant validation can hinder your emotional development and create a dependency on AI instead of using conflicts and negative experiences as learning moments. Furthermore, effective talk therapy requires human judgment, empathy, extensive firsthand experience, evidence-based interventions, and assessments that go beyond what you can type into a chat box. 

In contrast, with the right therapist, you can learn important skills like emotional regulation, healthy coping skills, and receive referrals to appropriate levels of care, whether that be medication management, inpatient mental health care, or other treatments. Additionally, sycophantic tendencies directly contradict key therapeutic modalities that rely on gently pushing people outside their comfort zones, such as exposure and response therapy (ERP).

Attachment and dependency concerns

Users who have AI friends have expressed developing genuine, emotional attachments to them. However, these connections are one-sided since AI can’t actually produce genuine emotions — such as empathy, love, or mutual affection — in the same way a real person can through lived experiences that are fundamental to relationships. Research reveals that despite 63% of users reporting that AI companions reduced loneliness and anxiety, the more a user relied on AI for emotional support, the less they felt supported by their actual loved ones.⁶ 

Specific risks for vulnerable populations

Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to turning to AI companionship, as this formative developmental period is often marked by the trials and tribulations of identity formation and creating social connections. A teen who is overwhelmed and insecure with learning how to navigate interactions or is struggling to develop proper emotional processing skills may turn to AI companionship as refuge. 

Additionally, individuals with depression, anxiety, attachment disorders, borderline personality disorder (BPD), or a history of trauma may be more susceptible to relying on AI as a form of therapy. These diagnoses often benefit from professional care that includes crisis management  — something that AI simply cannot provide — as trained experts can identify dangerous language, actions, or behaviors that may indicate a self-harm risk and can intervene appropriately. 

Finally, research shows those struggling with addiction or psychotic disorders are at particular risk. Research found that AI systems increase stigma toward conditions like schizophrenia and alcohol use disorder (AUD), which may lead people to discontinue detox or stop other treatments, and AI sycophancy might enable dangerous behaviors that a trained professional would catch.⁷

Related: Understanding and Addressing Teen Depression

Privacy and data exploitation

People often share private information with AI platforms under the assumption that these conversations are confidential. However, data and sensitive information such as relationship details, mental health struggles, and intimate thoughts can be breached and exploited if these AI companies are compromised. This is a concern that particularly applies to smaller AI start-up companies who may not have the infrastructure to bolster their security measures. Additionally, you can’t ever fully delete past conversations with AI platforms, and data can be accessed and monetized without your knowledge. 

Related: Understanding and Addressing Teen Anxiety

Recognizing Problematic Usage: Warning Signs to Watch For

While digital companions aren’t inherently bad when utilized with appropriate boundaries around the time users spend with them, recognizing when AI use becomes problematic is crucial for protecting yourself and your loved ones from developing unhealthy dependencies.

Red flags for individuals and families

Red flag behaviors that may indicate an unhealthy reliance on AI companionship include:

• Sharing intimate personal information with AI platforms.
• Preferring AI conversations over human interaction.
• Developing a genuine romantic attachment to AI girlfriends, boyfriends, or spouses. 
• Using AI companions as a primary source of emotional support.
• Experience stress when unable to access AI or when the internet connection is down.
• Declining quality of real-life relationships.

Specific concerns for teens that parents should watch for

As mentioned, young people are particularly vulnerable to developing AI companion dependencies during this developmental period, which can lead to increased emotional struggles and social withdrawal. If your teen is showing any of these signs, it might be time to intervene with their AI use:

• Withdrawing from family and peer activities. 
• Using AI platforms secretively.
• Referring to their AI companion as a “real” friend.
• Having age-inappropriate conversations with AI platforms.

• Experiencing mood changes based on the AI responses. 
• Participating less in hobbies or activities that they once enjoyed — otherwise know as anhedonia. 
• Lacking boundaries with AI use.
• Believing that AI has genuine emotions or can provide professional advice.

Related: What Should You Do When Your Teen Watches Graphic Online Content? 5 Tips To Deal With Secondary Trauma

Professional Alternatives to AI Therapy and Mental Health Treatment

AI is not a substitute for human connection or mental health care. If you’re struggling with mood, addiction, or relationship issues, here are some evidence-based treatments for proper healing.

Mental health professionals

If you’re struggling with social interactions or are experiencing relationship turmoil, a mental health professional can teach you skills for navigating and strengthening human relationships. Therapists provide judgment-free, confidential spaces to explore thoughts and behaviors using evidence-based treatment approaches. Psychiatrists specialize in medication management view mental health through both a biological and emotional lens. Counselors offer specialized support for specific challenges and populations.

Related: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner vs Psychiatrist

Evidence-based treatment modalities

Whether you’re receiving treatment from a therapist, psychiatrist, or counselor, professional treatment may include: 

• Talk therapy: Approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) help change negative thought patterns and build coping skills through trusted therapeutic relationships.
• Medication management: Psychiatrists can assess symptoms and adjust medications appropriately — something AI simply cannot provide. 
• Brain stimulation therapies: Non-invasive, drug-free treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magnetic e-resonance therapy (MeRT) use magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive brain regions associated with depression and other conditions.
• Community support: If you’re feeling lonely, struggling with developing genuine bonds with people, or dealing with a substance use disorder (SUD), community support groups can offer a space to connect with others facing similar challenges. 

According to Paula Martin, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) for Neuro Wellness Spa in North Torrance, “Interpersonal relationships are essential; emphasizing these interactions enables the expression of empathy and compassion in modern society. AI ought to augment, rather than supplant, human creativity and intellect. Professional treatment addresses these root causes of mental health struggles through genuine human connection, leading to lasting improvement rather than the temporary comfort AI companionship provides.”

Crisis intervention and resources

Professional crisis responders can provide life-saving assistance during mental health emergencies, including suicidal ideation, self-harm situations, or when you might be a risk to others. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 support by trained professionals who are experienced in risk-assessment and emergency interventions. This human-to-human support is essential for safety planning — something AI simply cannot offer. AI chatbots lack the clinical training required to understand nuance or subtle behavioral tells, which can lead to missing warning signs for self-harm or suicide. 

Related: Treatment Options for Depression

How Neuro Wellness Spa Can Provide Genuine Mental Health Support and Foster Connection

We understand that AI services can be helpful and fun to engage with, but they cannot replace genuine human relationships or mental health treatment. Our care team of compassionate mental health professionals can assist you on your journey toward healing. Whether you need talk therapy, psychiatric medication, or TMS therapy, we are here to help you find emotional resilience and genuine connection.

At Neuro Wellness Spa, we can help guide you toward a more fulfilling life, teaching you healthy coping strategies and social skills that can be practiced in your day-to-day life to ease a host of mental health struggles. Contact us today to connect with the support of a mental health professional and get the help you deserve.

FAQ: AI Companions

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about AI companions.

References

1. Top 10 Gen AL use cases. (2025, April 25). Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/data-visuals/2025/04/top-10-gen-al-use-cases

2. Talk, Trust, and Trade-Offs: How and Why Teens Use AI Companions. (2025). Common Sense Media. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/talk-trust-and-trade-offs_2025_web.pdf

3. Lotz, A. (2025, July 7). AI sycophancy: The downside of a digital yes-man. Axios. https://www.axios.com/2025/07/07/ai-sycophancy-chatbots-mental-health

4. Demopoulos, A. (2025, September 9). The women in love with AI companions: ‘I vowed to my chatbot that I wouldn’t leave him.’ The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/09/ai-chatbot-love-relationships

5. Brown, P., Duffy, C., & Dubnow, S. (2025, July 2). This man says ChatGPT sparked a ‘spiritual awakening.’ His wife says it threatens their marriage. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/02/tech/chatgpt-ai-spirituality

6. Friends for sale: the rise and risks of AI companions. (n.d.). https://www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/blog/ai-companions/

7. New study warns of risks in AI mental health tools. (n.d.). Stanford University. https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2025/06/ai-mental-health-care-tools-dangers-risks