Repression requires a tremendous amount of energy.
Eventually, you begin to realize that it’s not worth it and you look for a safe place to begin to take the lid off the pressure cooker. A support group or a therapists office may help if you feel reluctant to risk alienating your family.
But if some of your pain comes from issues with them, eventually you’ll need to tackle that as well. Hopefully after you’ve learned some assertiveness skills.
And dealing with painful issues in a direct and assertive (not aggressive) way is definitely a skill which can be learned just like any other skill even after a habit of repression.
Having a good teacher or mentors definitely helps.
BTW I’m not saying this to be flip, but if there are any who would turn their backs on you and walk away in response to your emotional honesty aren’t worth hanging on to anyway.
After my Mother’s suicide, I found out who my real friends were. The rest turned out to be mere acquaintances.
A real friend is there for you through thick and thin. Don’t be afraid to risk emotional honesty with them. The rest aren’t worth bothering with and the sooner they sort themselves out, the better for you in the long run. There will be a few who choose to turn their backs but certainly not all. The ones left are gold.