Hello wildchild,
Sounds to me like you have been reassessing your values. girls/women do tend to talk about each other and it's not neccessarily because they are being horrid. but gathering information and assessing their own thoughts. We tend to take different friendships which offer something to our wellbeing, if you feel you're not getting anything from them, then you've actually lost nothing.
It is better to have friends you are comforatble with than friends that can't offer anything in return. You don't have to trust everyone to the enth degree to socalise with them.
If you have a couple of quality friends, you will find, in time your network will grow again.
If you feel a little board and lonely you could always join a club of somesort, this could be the confidence builder you need.
You will be OK, believe in yourself