This is so common and I think you described it perfectly.
This is a form of twin flame telepathy for sure. Mental communication with your TF takes different forms - sometimes it shows up as a sudden mental awareness, kind of like a download of information. Other times, your thoughts just feel different, and you know they’re coming from your twin.
Earlier on, it can be easier to confuse the two. Talking to them in your head can feel exactly like “wishful thinking” because you miss them but you’ll learn to spot the difference. Twin flames share one consciousness; they exist as one soul, pretty much, which is why this mental chatter feels so natural. People just going through an intense crush or limerance will sometimes imagine a conversation in their head, but this is usually short-lived and easily steered because it’s your own imagination.
When it is a constant background chatter in your life whether you try to hear it or not, it’s a different experience.