Venting Vs. Detraction

[Poorly Catechized Convert]

Is it morally permissible to vent to family about a person or situation that bothers you? A lot of times it would include things that I wouldn't tell my friends (I'm not out to make people look bad), but at the same time when I'm really frustrated talking about these things to my family members helps. I try to mention good things about the person/situation also. Would this okay or would it reach the level of detraction?

[cappie]

Detraction is defined, primarily in Catholic theology, as the act of revealing previously unknown faults or sins of another person to a third person. Another definition of detraction as defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church as the act committed by one who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another persons faults/failings to persons who did not know them.

 

I feel that if I have something "bad" to say about someone, I wouldn't say it unless I could say it to their face. It's true that we have to be careful not to get carried away to say things that are erroneous and could cause or set a bad example to someone.

 

Having said that, "venting" I would believe would be a venial sin. The degree would depend whether it was spontaneous or premeditated.