Finances can strain even the hardiest relationship, and in today's economic downturn, they may bring potentially abusive relationships to their tipping point.

Cosmetics company Mary Kay released a survey called "Mary Kay's Truth About Abuse" directly linking the down economy to a rise in abuse from September to May.

The survey, which included 634 shelters nationwide, found that about 75 percent of shelters reported a rise in women seeking help from domestic abuse. Of those, 73 percent attributed the rise to "financial issues."

"We've been hearing from the field that this economic downturn is making domestic violence worse," said Brian Namey, spokesperson for the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

"It's a difficult time because we see a high demand on services, and at the same time funding is harder to come by."

Patty Gonzales, communications manager for the Texas Council on Family Violence, said the National Domestic Violence Hotline saw a 43 percent increase in calls comparing March 2008 to March 2009.

One form of abuse to look out for in this downturn is economic abuse, which happens when a person in a relationship tries to domineer the spending or tightly regulate the couple's cash flow.

Someone might, for instance, give a restrictive allowance or forbid opening a bank account.

"One of the greatest barriers to leaving an abusive relationship is economics," Namey said. "That has the effect of keeping victims in an abusive relationship. They're wondering how they're going to feed their children."

Zeinabou Sall, house manager in charge of the shelter for Mosaic Family Services, a group focused on social services for immigrant populations, said their shelter's population has seen a 15 percent to 20 percent increase since April, currently being filled to capacity with 32 women and children.

Lara Cupit, philanthropy coordinator for the Genesis Women's Shelter, said the economy doesn't so much produce more abusers as intensify violence already there.

"When the stress from loss of income, loss of house, loss of job, when that makes its way into a home dealing with domestic violence, the violence escalates," Cupit said.