Friend is pulling back without a fight — how do I handle this shift?

Hi everyone,

I’m 30F and my friend is 27F. We’ve never had a fight or major disagreement, but lately I’ve noticed some distance between us.

Recently, I reached out saying I missed hanging out and wanted to catch up. She replied that she’s been busy with her boyfriend and his family, and also mentioned that sometimes she feels like we talk too much and aren’t as productive in our own lives. She said she appreciates the space I’ve given her, but also that she’s been dealing with social anxiety and trust issues from a past situation.

She reassured me that she values our friendship, but she also suggested we switch to more planned phone calls instead of frequent texting. She said she sometimes doesn’t know what to say to make me feel better and wants me to have other ways to cope if she can’t be that person for me.

I responded by apologizing if I’ve been leaning on her too much and told her I want to respect her boundaries. She thanked me and we agreed on a phone call this week.

There’s no animosity, but it feels like she’s creating some distance. I’m not sure if I should give her space and wait for her to reach out, or if I should still check in occasionally so she knows I care.

How do I maintain this friendship without crossing boundaries or making her feel pressured?