baby was born, I thought he would love me; but when he cried all the time, it meant he didn't love me, so I hit him." (Vander, 1997). Some parents also just interpret their childs needs wrong. A child may be crying because he is hungry, and the parent will try to change it's diaper. When the child continues to cry, the parent may get frustrated and hit the child. It is never the fault of the child when abuse occurs, although it is usually made out to be. There are many treatment and intervention options that are available for abused children. There are many crisis centers that are available for children in desperate need. They will listen to the story and help out as much as possible. There are also many 1-800 numbers that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These hotlines provide immediate counseling for the children who need it. There will be more information about counseling and how to cope with abuse later on in this discussion. Implication for Consumer HealthThere are obviously many ways in which child abuse affects the family on a whole, but it is more important to look at the ways in which abuse affects the individual. First of all, the most apparent effects are the physical ones. A child can be severely hurt by a beating, a sexual act, or even undernourishment. Johnny, in the above story, is just one example as to how "discipline" went a couple steps too far. Sometimes, children are hurt so badly that they cannot play, sleep, or even attend school. Most times, though, the effects go far beyond the physical ramifications.All abuse victims experience some kind of mental harm just in the time that they are going through the abuse. "Depression is the most common symptom." (Ratican, 1994). Other symptoms of the abused include: guilt and shame, relationship issues, denial, repression, and many more. These issues can cause problems not only for the child internally, but many are socially-outcasted as well. ...
