Well, I have just escaped to my home. It was noot good. I don't expect it ended well. I was already feeling weak and fragile before the meeting. Anyway two former members showed up and started having it out. I panicked and had to leave. It may very well be still going on.

I experience a great deal of worry over the potential behaviour of others. Maybe it's a paranoia but I am always afraid of the worst. I am careful not to get myself into possibly difficult situations. My heart skips a beat when I fear a confrontation is about to happen. I'm not just talking about confrontations I may get into but I do what I can to avoid confrontations between others.

Sounds like you did the right thing by removing yourself from the situation, good job!

[~Christina]

I am quick to make an exit in situations like that.

I'm glad you left a bad situation.

[Nammu]

Sometimes I've wondered what would happen if everybody in a group left when two people behaved that way? Would the therapist become better at forestalling confrontations like that? I've been accused of not staying in situations like that because if I stayed "we" could work though the anxiety, fear, whatever. I say kudos for leaving. Whatever type of meeting it was. I don't think that's paranoid I think it's self preservation.

[WibblyWobbly]

I haven't seen anything like that go down in group but I witnessed it inpatient several times. I would head straight to my room until it was dealt with and depending on how hostile they were I might take a PRN. I think the reason it's so horrible is that you don't know the people well enough to know what they're capable of.

I'm sure you're shaken up but you took care of yourself by leaving and hopefully those two will be banned from any more meetings.

Sidestepper - it is a self moderated group. There is no therapist or other professional in attendance.

This goes back near a year when we had to ask the president to step down. It wasn't pretty at the time. I was on the executive (treasurer) at the time and stood behind the vice president when the deed was done. It had been a group decision when she wasn't present. It was handled poorly but people were intensely afraid of a confrontation if the actions been taken while she was in attendance. Yes poor call, but all agreed it was necessary to do it that way.

Anyway, she walked in last night full of vigour. It got nasty and I feared it getting physical. Her husband was out in the car and he is known for his violent temper.

I have some PTSD issues. I just couldn't stick around.

[Jensitive22]

Yikes! Double yikes!! I'm so sorry! That sounds similar to an experience I went through as a member of a school board I was on years ago.

You mentioned the PTSD in a reply to my post. I think this might be an issue for me as well.