Difficult conversations are difficult because we fear the outcome.  Barring perhaps priests and therapists, it’s unrealistic to expect other people to react to your verbal spluge with just a supportive nod.  So when thinking of having a difficult conversation with someone, you need to take their imagined reaction out of the picture entirely and clarify for yourself what YOU want – not what you want them do but, rather, what you want for yourself.  If everything you think you want is something from them – absolution, understanding, etc. – it may be time to give it a rethink and focus on yourself.