[Spank-A-Thon]

I don't think it's possible to separate it out to purely phsycial or mental pain.

Young children who are physically abused don't usually show any mental signs until many years later. Whilst the physical effects have long since worn off, the mental trauma (that at the time they didn't understand) can manifest itself in many ways later in life. So in these cases, you have to ask where they physically or mentally abused?

A child treated violently (in a physical manner) by it's parents may grow up believing this is the norm, and replicate this behaviour to their own children because they were mentally affected by the physical abuse.

Conversely many children who suffer mental abuse, grow up and take out their feelings in a physical manner in later life - this is a common trait in many serial killers.

I would say that whilst there is solely mental abuse, in many cases mental trauma is a by-product of physical abuse.

I suppose going from that, mental pain, whether that be caused directly or as a consequence of physical actions, is by far the worst. Mental pain can have far-reaching effects and remain buried for years - and in some cases affect a person for life.

At least brusies and cuts can heal.

- S