David_Jay, I for one was taken aback by what you described happening to you as a child. So much so that I wanted to comment on your post but I didn't know how to. You have my sincerest condolences for what happened to you. Rather than try to catalogue what is child abuse and what is not child abuse, I think that all of us here must accept and realize that abuse happens on a spectrum and is not amenable to absolutist and strict guidelines. Much like pain, the abuse is subjective and can range from 'mild' to 'severe'. As for me and my siblings, we were raised by a fanatical, single, mentally unbalanced Jehovah's Witness mother. So in addition to the list that Anders Andersen posted we were subjected to whippings with electrical extension cords. beatings with broomsticks, the buckle end of a belt and on and on........ So rather that any of us making an intellectual exercise out of this topic, lets all agree that abuse of a child is wrong no matter what form it takes and no matter who is doing the abusing. I wish you well on your journey and much success in life.