Mental abuse is "when one person uses another person's insecurities, phobias and fear to force another to do as they wish," such as "withholding various items, feelings, affection, or personal and physical needs such as food, sleep, water, comfort, warmth and even elimination" as a way to get the victim to do the abuser's bidding (Four pp). Children of mental abuse are suffer from depression, emotional withdrawal, low self-esteem, sleep disorders, or suicide, and may develop self-mutilating behaviors or become socially isolated (Four pp).

Again, therapy with a licensed psychotherapist and psychologist is necessary for children of mental abuse (Four pp).

Physical abuse is the most obvious and most easily diagnosable type of child abuse, and is defined as "one or more episodes of aggressive behavior usually resulting in physical injury with possible damage to internal organs, sense organs, the central nervous system or the muscle or bones of another person" (Four pp). Common signs or indications of physical abuse include:

Physical evidence of abuse and/or neglect including evidence of previous injuries; Conflicting stories about the "accident" or injury from parents, guardian, husband or wife; the cause of injury is blamed on siblings, children and/or pets; the evidence of an injury that is inconsistent with the person's medical history; in children, a history that is inconsistent with a child's development such as hot water and a six-month-old baby;

Coming to the hospital for a reason other then the one associated with signs of abuse such as complaining of a cough when there are bruises all over chest and back; Caregiver, guardian, husband or wife reacts in an exaggerated or unemotional state; Refusal of caregiver, guardian, husband or wife to authorize medical treatment;Inappropriate response in abused person such as no response to pain or fear of being touched

Repeated visits to emergency rooms for "accidents" or...

Medical intervention and therapy with a psychologist specialized in abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder is necessary (Four pp).
Dr. Walter Lambert stresses that unfortunately "most, if not all, state laws in this country say that parents are allowed to hit their children...aggravated child abuse is an aggravated battery, a malicious punishment or torture, or a permanent disability or disfigurement" (Hilton pp). Moreover, most states in the United States, "permit parents to use religious beliefs as a defense against prosecution for the withholding of medical treatment from their sick children, even in cases where the lack of treatment results in a child's death" (Columbia pp.). According to recent studies, one in four girls and one in eight boys will be sexually abused by the age of eighteen, and one in twenty children are physically abused every year (Child pp).

It is unthinkable for me to even entertain the idea of harming a child in any way, whether mental, physical, emotional, sexual abuse.

Works Cited child abuse. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition; 2/24/2005; pp.

Child Abuse and Neglect. Medical Library; pp. http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ3S3DRUDC&sub_cat=355

Thompson, Ericka P. "Child sex abuse still under-reported."

Indianapolis Recorder; 11/12/2004; pp.

Hilton, Lisette. "Skin signs of child abuse: Demographic and ethnic traditions aside, doctors must examine at wounds and draw conclusions."

Dermatology Times; 3/1/2002; pp.

The four types of abuse and their effects; pp. http://ar.essortment.com/abuseandeffect_rfyy.htm

Havelin, Kate. Child Abuse. Capstone Press. 2000; pp. 6.