How the holidays can impact domestic violence situations

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND)- Christmas is often called the most wonderful time of the year, but for people in tricky family situations, that can be difficult. This can be especially relevant in cases of domestic violence.

"Domestic violence increases when partners are stressed," said Chloe McMurray, the Chief Capacity Building Officer for the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. "One of the most significant stressors during the holidays are financial stress and if you've got that going on, and you've got the emotional stress of the holidays going on, and all of those different factors, that can lead to an increase in domestic violence."

Situations can also be escalated because people are home from work and interacting more often. If you are around someone you think may be impacted by domestic violence, here are some of the signs to look out for:

Being forced to isolate/missing events with no reason
Being withdrawn and guarded
Losing the ability to contact friends and family members

If you recognize this behavior, the best thing to do is try to talk to that person alone or see what help they need.

"Find that private time to go up to them and say, 'Hey, how you doing, and just letting them know, I'm here for you. Anytime you need to talk, anything you need, I'm here for you,'" said Joyce Kirkland, the Domestic Violence Program Director at Dove Incorporated. "And it can just be that simple, but you've let them know that they've got somebody and they aren't alone."

Kirkland says Dove Inc. sees an increase in requests for shelter and services during the holiday season. Their shelter and hotline are staffed 24/7, even during the holidays.

McMurray says it's important to be empathetic and recognize there may be a lot of factors keeping people from taking action.

"People don't know that leaving is the most dangerous time for a survivor," said McMurray. "That is, when we see the most fatalities, that's when we see the most heightened forms of aggression, and homicide, because that's the moment that the person who has been causing the harm has lost the most control. So that's when they are the most volatile. "

Dove Inc.'s hotline number is 217-423-2238 and their office line is 217-428-6616 if you have questions. The Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline is 877-863-6338. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is (800) 799-SAFE.