I was sexually and verbally abused by my father in my early teens. I have recovered well...I think . My father is no more. My mother and brother have NO IDEA of the kind of person he was. My family, extended family, his colleagues, neighbors, etc. hold him in very high esteem....and FIRMLY believe that God can make a mistake...but my father can't.

They think of him as Dr. Jekyll....only I know about the Mr. Hyde.

I've been toying with the idea of confessing to my family. I have my reasons....I feel things would improve in family. On the other hand, it may completely backfire. They may not believe it AT ALL....and I may lose what's left of my family.

It's my word against him. I recently did confess to my family that dad's calling me "stupid" so many times has affected my self-esteem (didn't even use the word "verbal abuse")....my brother rejected that notion and my mother ignored it.

I can live without telling them anything and let them live in this delusion that everything was "perfect" in family. On the other hand....I am seeing cracks in the family....the truth may hurt them...but it may make them realise of all the emotional abuse they endured at his hands and start healing (my father often told us that he wanted to leave us...he never did).

If you were me, would you confess??

Do you have any experience in confessing to family??