Ever since Cell phones became general use they have altered the way we communicate, but they have also had an underlying effect on our brains and attitudes, changing the way we respond and our expectations of others.

Before the Cell phone we were quite happy to send a letter which could take days and sometimes even weeks to arrive at its destination, we would then wait the same amount of time for a reply to arrive all without getting anxious.

We would telephone a friend or family member, and if there was no reply we would of just accepted they were out or busy with their life, perhaps ringing them back again later, all without panicking they did not like/love us anymore or were being disrepectful to us.

At weekends we would not phone a work colleague, we would respect their privacy and entitlement to time of from work, we would not telephone someone late at night being respectful that they may be sleeping.

But now we have mobiles and texts we have lost all of our patience, we demand an 'IMMEDIATE RESPONSE' twenty four hours a day, no longer can you shut off from work or take time for yourself, or even sleep without being interupted.

It seems that our televisions are full of gambling sites every evening, we are bombarded with adverts for various Lotteries, and our computers and phones are continuously tempting us with new gambling apps.

Of course, we all like doing the things we enjoy, and we often look for a form of escapism from the worries and stresses of everyday life, so it is understandable that we enjoy playing games or using gambling sites and on our computers and phones, doing so passes the time if we are feeling lonely and isolated, and it can take our mind off our problems.

But what happens when it becomes exessive?

We all fantasise about that huge win on a slot machine or casino wheel, the win that will pay off our debts and swamp us in complete luxury, but of course that never happens, because those who tempt us into playing ensure that, they do not want to give away their money, so the systems are fixed to prevent it.

But even though we know that, the temptation of 'perhaps next time' keeps us playing, throwing us in even deeper as we attempt to clamber back what we have already lost.

But it is when it starts to affect us in other ways that it becomes a problem, when it starts creating debts that we can never repay, forcing us to lose our house and possessions, leaving us unable to purchase food or necessities or even homeless.

Just as with gambling, the playing of games can pass the time and mask our worries, they are also designed to be addictive, urging you to continue and to find out what happens next, or pushing you to become better at the game and climb the ladder with a higher score.

Yet we ignore the many downfalls that can come with spending hjour upon hour, day upon day, playing these games. The health issues caused by screen radiation, the damage to our eyesight from continuous intense study of small moving items, the lack of sleep and sometimes the missing of meals and personal care. Not to mention the severe effects it can have on our mental health through stress.

Children are especially vulnerable, any child would rather be playing a game than doing homework, given the option of a game or the chance to read a book, take a walk, or tidy their room, and the game is going to win every time.

But obesity is a growing problem in our technology overloaded children, which often then leads to other serious health problems!

There is also the developmental issue, our children are still learning to process daily life, to understand morals and right from wrong, seperating fantasy / fiction from reality. They are unable to fully process that 'War Games' are different from real life, that the aggression and violence that they often see in playing games is not the behaviours they should have in everyday life. Some beleiving this fantasy world to be 'Normal behaviour' and then taking this aggression and bullying nature to school, out to play, against friends and siblings, and in some extreme cases to parents and even against grandparents.

Car racing games are also very popular, the invincibility of driving a car at full speed and just climbing out after it has crashed to just find another, can mislead children into believing that they now have the skills and can do so in real life. Some are then tempted to actually do it, and will either lose their life or the lives of others around them.

Whatever the age, the time spent in fantasy worlds and playing games needs to be limited!

Although alcohol addiction and gambling addiction have been acknoledged for many years, the addiction to mobile cell phone use and online computer gaming is a relatively new thing and still not fully understood or recognised by us as being the 'Medical Addiction' that it is.

The following organisations can help.