Sorry it went that way, but perhaps it's for the best.

I've been in groups that have helped and others that have hurt.

You keep looking until you find one that is helpful.

I think part of the group dynamic is to help us learn how to interact with others in real life because of stuff just like this.

I had an angry guy go off at me in the office back over the summer and it felt as if I had evaporated off the face of the earth. I walked away and when I'd recollected myself I spoke with a supervisor that had witnessed it, and asked him to relay to this person that speaking to me in that manner was not okay and that if he did it again we'd go to human resources about hostile work environments.

I told the supervisor I felt like a chicken for not being able to do that myself, but he told me I handled it perfectly because walking away defused the situation and I was able to respond from a rational rather than reactionary space.

He also passed my message along verbatim, and Mr. Angry Pants has been keeping it in check around me and good thing for him because if he ever does it again, he'll find out real quick that I ain't bluffin'!

That is not something I would have been able to do were it not for some of the group experiences I've had ... So don't you throw that baby out with the bathwater ... Keep searching until you find a group that is a good fit and you too will learn how and when to stand up for yourself and also when it is best to simply walk away.

Sincerely,
Pfrog!