as far as whether or not no contact is necessary? Im sure that varies among people. But for me, no contact- was the only way to end the mix messages my ex boyfriend was giving me. We were both sending and receiving mixed messages from each other and our relationship was a total tangled up mess.
I tried back off and just not talk or see him as much. Seeing him periodically, made things even more foggy for me so I to save my sanity (stop checking my phone every sec etc), I had to go no contact.