I recently joined a number of peer support groups on zoom for people with mood disorders (bipolar and depression) to help me get through the isolation of the pandemic combined with the isolation of my mental illness. I've had a number of unpleasant experiences on them and am wondering what is going on, if other people also had bad experiences and what to do to have better experiences, or if it is just hopeless.

Yesterday was one example. I was sharing how I had tons of anxiety about another problem my son was having, how I spent a good part of the day texting with him, and how I'm afraid that he will never be able to manage his own life and I will be dealing with his problems until the day I die. I also said repeatedly that i realized that my anxiety was over the top, was internally generated and wasn't his fault. I shared that I wasn't able to eat the whole day and am crippled by anxiety.

When I was done sharing a woman started offering feedback. She said "I can't stand people who complain about their kids". The facilitator said something like "no that isn't right" and was shaking his head trying to figure out what to say. I felt publicly humiliated and said to the facilitator that it wasn't his fault but I didn't appreciate that woman's comment at all, I didn't feel safe anymore in the meeting, so I left the meeting. I felt that this woman was being deliberately insulting.

This is the 4th or 5th unpleasant experience I've had in zoom support meetings for people with mood disorders. I am starting to think that many people really don't want to hear what an older woman with problems has to say.

I'd like to have better experiences on zoom, so I'm wondering what I can do to make sure that happens, or if that is even possible.