This article is brought to you by the St. Hubert Domestic Violence Ministry. Do you wish to join this ministry? Our next meeting February 1
st at 7:00 PM in the Bernardin Room located on the second floor of the Ministry Center. If you can’t make this meeting, but would still like to get involved, for more information, please contact the Ministry Coordinator at
ministryinfo@sainthubert.org
Myths Concerning Abuse In The Home PART III
Myth: Domestic violence is often triggered by stress, for example, the loss of a job or some financial or marital problem.
Fact: Daily life is full of frustration associated with money and work, our families and other personal relationships. Everyone experiences stress, and everyone responds to it differently.
Violence is a specific learned and chosen response to stress, whether real or imagined. Certainly, high general levels of domestic violence can be related to social problems such as unemployment; however, other reactions to such situations are equally possible. Some people take out their frustration on themselves with drugs or alcohol; some take it out on others with verbal or physical abuse.
Myth: Domestic violence is a less serious problem— less lethal—than "real" violence, like street crimes.
Fact: It is a terrible and unrecognized fact that for many people, home is the least safe place. Domestic violence accounts for a significant proportion of all serious crimes - aggravated assault, rape and homicide. Furthermore, when compared with stranger-to-stranger crime, rate of occurrence and levels of severity are still underreported for domestic violence.
If you or someone you know is being abused, seek help today. In an emergency, please dial 911. For all other help, please call: Illinois Statewide Domestic Violence Helpline 877 TO END DV (877-863-6338), 877-863-6339 TTY or call WINGS 24-hour hotline 847-221-5680.