When women end a friendship, the heartbreak can be devastating, yet we rarely talk about how hard it is to grieve somebody who is still alive. Susan Shapiro Barash joins Gretta to explore the complex world of female friendship estrangement based on her groundbreaking research interviewing 150 diverse women. Her new book, "Estranged: How Strained Female Friendships Are Mended or Ended," challenges the lifelong "best friends forever" narrative that has left countless women feeling down when their closest friendships crumble. From the faithless friend who betrays your trust to the green-eyed friend consumed by jealousy, Barash identifies different types of toxic friendships that lead women to the painful decision of ending relationships they once cherished. Whether you've been ghosted or betrayed by a friend, are healing from a friendship breakup, or seeking to build healthier connections, this episode offers compassionate guidance for navigating one of life's most under-discussed transitions.

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Host Gretta Perlmutter, MA, a Certified Post Betrayal Transformation® Coach, delivers evidence-based strategies for turning personal betrayal into a powerful catalyst for growth and healing.

Connect With Susan Shapiro Barash

Read Susan's Book: Estranged: How Strained Female Friendships Are Mended or Ended | Susan's Website

Susan Shapiro Barash has written more than a dozen nonfiction books, including Tripping the Prom Queen, Toxic Friends, and You’re Grounded Forever, but First Let’s Go Shopping. For more than 20 years, she taught gender studies at Marymount Manhattan College and has guest taught creative nonfiction at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. Her fiction is published under her pen name, Susannah Marren.

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Zaiah

Disclaimer: This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with Ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools. Coping With Ghosting does not provide health care or psychological therapy services and does not diagnose or treat any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or registered professionals.

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Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages). When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."

When Best Friends Become Strangers: Understanding Female Friendship Estrangement