Female friendships get talked about a lot — usually in the wrong way. Pop culture paints women as competitive, dramatic, jealous, or impossible to get along with. Many of us grew up hearing “I’m not friends with girls — they’re too much drama.” And for a lot of women, that became a lived experience.
But what happens when you finally experience healthy female friendships?
When you meet women who build you, see you, support you, and make your world feel lighter?
Everything changes.
This episode of Uplift Women’s Wellness dives into exactly that — why so many women struggle with female friendships in childhood and early adulthood, what shifts later, and how finding the right women can transform your entire life.
When “Girl Friendships” Haven’t Been Safe
Many women — including us — grew up having friendships that weren’t supportive, reciprocal, or emotionally safe.
Sometimes those friendships were anchored in:
people-pleasing
fear of abandonment
staying small to avoid conflict
being the “easy friend” who over-gives
friends who competed, sabotaged, or lashed out
These dynamics often attract people who take more than they give. And when you don’t have boundaries yet, you stay.
It’s easy to internalize the message:
“Women are mean.”
“Girls are drama.”
“I can’t trust female friends.”
But the truth is: that’s not about women — it’s about the wrong women.
Healing, Boundaries & Attracting Better Women
As we grew, we realized something:
The healthier we became, the healthier women we attracted.
When you:
set boundaries
stop tolerating unbalanced relationships
stop over-giving
develop self-worth
lose the fear of losing people
stop trying to rescue or fix
…you naturally filter out the people who thrived when you had no boundaries.
And what you gain is extraordinary:
Women who give. Women who pour. Women who show up. Women who see you.
Female Friendship Is Not Optional — It’s Biological
For thousands of years, women relied on each other for survival. We weren’t competing — we were collaborating.
We cooked together.
Raised children together.
Kept the tribe alive together.
Synced our rhythms, cycles, responsibilities, and energy.
Modern life has pulled women apart. But our biology, nervous systems, and emotional architecture are still wired for connection with other women.
No wonder a night with your girlfriends feels like exhaling after holding your breath too long.
Modern Women Need a Tribe — Not Competition
Healthy female friendships aren’t superficial.
They’re depth-filled, soul-filled, and life-sustaining.
They sound like:
“How’s your marriage really?”
“Are you feeling supported?”
“Are you actually okay?”
“How do you feel in your body right now?”
“What do you need?”
“How’s intimacy? Are you fulfilled?”
These conversations refill your emotional cup in a way nothing else can.
And when women come together with honesty and vulnerability?
They create community. They create progress. They create change.
That’s literally why Head 2 Toe Strength exists.
The Magic of Right-Fit Female Friends
When your female friendships are healthy, you feel:
✔ seen
✔ supported
✔ energized
✔ validated
✔ safe
✔ inspired
✔ like life is doable again
You should leave your friendships feeling full, not anxious, drained, or on edge.
Your closest female friends should feel like:
a soft place to land
a mirror for your growth
a hype squad
accountability partners
co-creators of your dreams
And when women come together with aligned values and shared purpose — like we have — it can literally reshape a life, a business, and a community.
Our Origin Story
We didn’t meet with expectations of lifelong friendship. We met because Bethany had just moved back to Orange County and booked a training appointment with someone whose name she couldn’t pronounce.
But from day one, we saw each other.
We challenged each other.
We validated each other.
We created together.
We dreamed together.
We poured into each other without keeping score.
The entire Uplift Women’s Wellness podcast — and everything built within Head 2 Toe — came from the fire created when two aligned women said:
“We could build something amazing together.”
And we did.
If You’ve Been Hurt by Women Before
Please hear this:
Healthy, kind, emotionally intelligent women do exist.
And having the right ones in your life is transformative.
You deserve friendships where you can:
take your soul out and put it on the table
show your “ugly” truths and be loved anyway
be supported without being used
be challenged without being torn down
grow without someone resenting you
Your women are out there.
And your life will expand the moment you find them.
Let’s Rebuild What Womanhood Is Supposed to Be
Women were never meant to compete.
We were meant to collaborate.
We were meant to lead together.
We were meant to uplift each other.
Female friendship is strength.
Female community is power.
Female connection is medicine.
And we’re here to rebuild that — one conversation at a time.
SHOW NOTES
Episode: How Female Friendship, Body Image & Resilience Shape Our Mission at Head 2 Toe Strength
Hosts: Bethany Busch (Head 2 Toe Strength) & Auria Zahed, LMFT
In this episode, we cover:
Why so many women grew up distrusting female friendships
How people-pleasing and fear of abandonment attract unhealthy relationships
The difference between “giving” and being used
Why women are biologically wired for community
How our cycles, nervous systems & communication styles sync
What healthy female friendships should feel like
Why depth and validation matter more than surface-level conversation
How our own friendship formed and fueled our business
Signs your current friendships aren’t healthy
How to build your circle as an adult
Why women lead better when they lead together
Perfect for:
Women seeking deeper friendships, healing old wounds, or building community.
Resources Mentioned:
Head 2 Toe Strength Programs
Uplift Women’s Wellness Podcast
Women’s community groups and meetups at Head 2 Toe