Holidays are meant to be a time spent with family and friends sharing love and laughter.
Some could not imagine the holidays would bring some of the most horrific nightmares into a household. Unfortunately, this is all too common for a lot of ‘seemingly otherwise’ happy couples.
It can be easy to disguise on the outside what may be happening within a relationship. Truth be told, especially during stressful times of the holidays, things aren’t always what they appear. Many of your friends and family may be wearing their masks well, with a lovely red bow this holiday season.
Or all year long.
- Statistics show 1 IN 4 WOMEN, 1 IN 9 MEN IN THE UNITED STATES ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES
For many, the holidays can be stressful. Anxiety can lead to frustration and miscommunication within relationships. Often times anger results in verbal and/or physical violence in relationships. If alcohol and/or other drug(s) are used, this could create an even higher volatile result.
Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.
Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone. It happens to all races, ages, sexual orientation, religion or gender. Domestic violence does apply to married couples; it can also occur between people who are living together or who are dating.
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship please contact The National Domestic Violence Hotline at: http://www.thehotline.org/ or call: 1-800-799-SAFE
Be a Star this holiday season. Become your own Star. Shine for yourself. If you are in an abusive relationship, and you have children, be their Star! You can guide them to breaking the cycle of violence.
Comments
Great information on domestic violence and the holiday season...its a tough time of year for many in all relationships...
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