Holidays and Domestic Violence

Holiday financial stress sparks domestic violence
Idealistic pressures lead to abuse

 Holidays are a time for merriment, parties and family get-togethers. People exchange gifts and enjoy Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and News Year’s. But for many women and children, it is a time of fear, abuse, depression and increased domestic violence.

David Schneider, M.D., chair of family and community medicine at Saint Louis University, states that, “There’s a lot of stress associated with the holidays, from pressure to provide for the family and money issues to spending more time with distant family. Domestic violence often revolves around high stress times. Additionally, people tend to drink more alcohol around the holidays, and about half of all domestic violence occurs when either the perpetrator or victim is under the influence of alcohol.”

Statistics on domestic violence

Domestic violence increases around Christmas and New Year's all over the world. The US, UK and Australia report a rise of about 20% during this festive season. Overall, one in every four women experiences domestic violence in her lifetime. Most of it comes in the form of physical assault by the intimate partner. 85% of domestic violence victims are women. They are victims of stalking, torture, and physical or sexual assault. And the nasty truth is that most of the cases are never reported to the police.

Expectations and Reality

The economic downturn can lead to overall stress among all members of a family. But for many people, seasonal expectations lead to unrealistic demands, exacerbating the problem. Spending time and money on vacations and gifts leaves people at an edge for money. Some families just want to feel good among their peers, friends and families, spending until their budgets are in tatters. Stress is usually high which sometimes leads the family breadwinner to excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs, hence domestic violence.

Avoiding domestic violence

Too often, women do not complain or do not wish to see the seriousness of the issue until it becomes dangerous or fatal. Schneider warns that when a partner is threatening suicide or there are guns in house, these are very dangerous situations. If you find yourself in one of these situations, you need to find a way out.

- Communicate and let things cool down before starting a conversation.
- Plan according to your budget, stick to it and avoid being a spendthrift.
- Stand up for yourself, and go to a relative's or a friend’s house. Get away from a situation which is beginning to get downright nasty.
- Accept help from churches, shelters, or your local police department.
- Get a restraining order.
- If this is happening to a friend or a relative, offer support and encouragement, and arrange for transportation to either your own home or to a local woman’s shelter.

It’s important to not let the situation go out of hand. Manage financial pressures by taking a look at your budget. Don’t go overboard. And be realistic.