Holiday Violence
By: Jackie Smith
Updated: November 23, 2010
The holidays can be a stressful time.
And if you mix that stress with an already tense household, the consequences can be abusive.
That's why some experts believe the holidays can play a part in family violence.
Going to Christmas parties or a Thanksgiving family dinner sounds nice, but to a vicitim of domestic violence its a nightmare.
Abusers like to isolate the victim from any interaction with family and friends.
That's why safe place here in midland is making sure victims see the warning signs this holiday season.
"We go out, we go to parties, family comes to visit and that puts an extra strain on the relationship." said, Development Director, Nancy Betts.
The relationship shes talking about is abusive.
Everyday victims come here to safe place to escape the violent cycle.
With holidays coming up, victims have to be careful.
"The extra stress of trying to keep a picture of the perfect family for the world to see," said Betts.
Victims want their children to have both parents during the holidays.
Creating a false reality that Betts says diminshes right after you throw out that Christmas tree.
"Now January might get kind of stressful, holidays are over, people get back in routine, there is a cycle of violence, there is a typically an outburst," said Betts.
There is no statistical evidence to prove that holidays correlate with domestic violence.
But Betts says people should still notice the warning signs.
"Name calling, isolation, wanting to know where a person is at all times, any kind of over control," said Betts.
Now Betts said this could happen any time of year.
And Safe Place is here to help.
"It's so important to reach out for help and realize your not alone, no matter what time of year it is," said Betts.
Betts told me that it usually takes a victim seven times before they get the courage to leave.
She also said that during the holiday season its usually the family of the abused who realize there is a problem.
If that happens she urges them to call for help.
For information on domestic violence you can visit www.safeplacenow.com.
24-hour crisis hotline: (432) 570-1465 or 1-800-967-8928.
And if you mix that stress with an already tense household, the consequences can be abusive.
That's why some experts believe the holidays can play a part in family violence.
Going to Christmas parties or a Thanksgiving family dinner sounds nice, but to a vicitim of domestic violence its a nightmare.
Abusers like to isolate the victim from any interaction with family and friends.
That's why safe place here in midland is making sure victims see the warning signs this holiday season.
"We go out, we go to parties, family comes to visit and that puts an extra strain on the relationship." said, Development Director, Nancy Betts.
The relationship shes talking about is abusive.
Everyday victims come here to safe place to escape the violent cycle.
With holidays coming up, victims have to be careful.
"The extra stress of trying to keep a picture of the perfect family for the world to see," said Betts.
Victims want their children to have both parents during the holidays.
Creating a false reality that Betts says diminshes right after you throw out that Christmas tree.
"Now January might get kind of stressful, holidays are over, people get back in routine, there is a cycle of violence, there is a typically an outburst," said Betts.
There is no statistical evidence to prove that holidays correlate with domestic violence.
But Betts says people should still notice the warning signs.
"Name calling, isolation, wanting to know where a person is at all times, any kind of over control," said Betts.
Now Betts said this could happen any time of year.
And Safe Place is here to help.
"It's so important to reach out for help and realize your not alone, no matter what time of year it is," said Betts.
Betts told me that it usually takes a victim seven times before they get the courage to leave.
She also said that during the holiday season its usually the family of the abused who realize there is a problem.
If that happens she urges them to call for help.
For information on domestic violence you can visit www.safeplacenow.com.
24-hour crisis hotline: (432) 570-1465 or 1-800-967-8928.
