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iStockPhoto (CBS) Can a person be truly addicted to the Internet? A new brain scan study shows not only can that be the case, but also that Internet addiction might cause the same brain changes that are seen in alcoholics and drug addicts. For the study, published in the Jan. 11 issue of PLoS One, researchers studied 17 men and women who were diagnosed with Internet addiction disorder (IAD) and compared scans of their brains to scans of 16 healthy people who weren't addicted to the web. Study participants were between the ages of 14 and 21 and lived in China. Video Game-Obsessed Mom Neglects Kids, Starves DogsAre social networking sites turning teens into substance abusers? The researchers found more patterns of  "abnormal white matter" on brain scans of Internet addicts, compared with scans of non-addicts. White matter areas in the brain contain nerve fibers that transmit signals to other parts of the brain. These changes showed evidence of disrupting pathways related to emotions, decision-making, and self control. The researchers said earlier studies have found similar white matter changes in the brain scans of people addicted to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, meth, and ketamine (also known as "Special K"). "The results also suggest that IAD may share psychological and neural mechanisms with other types of substance addiction and impulse control disorders," the researchers wrote in the study. Professor Gunter Schumann, chair in biological psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, London, told BBC News that he's come across similar findings in brain scans of video game addicts. "For the first time two studies show changes in the neuronal connections between brain areas as well as changes in brain function in people who are frequently using the Internet or video games," he said. Dr. Henrietta Bowden Jones, consultant psychiatrist at Imperial College in London, who runs the U.K.'s only clinic for Internet addicts, said hardcore gamers are more likely to be addicted to the Internet. "The majority of people we see with serious Internet addiction are gamers - people who spend long hours in roles in various games that cause them to disregard their obligations," Jones told The Independent. "I have seen people who stopped attending university lectures, failed their degrees or their marriages broke down because they were unable to emotionally connect with anything outside the game." According to the independent, an estimated 5 to 10 percent of Internet users are unable to control their usage and are considered addicts.

Dr. Kimberly Young has likened Internet addiction to addictive syndromes similar to impulse-control disorders on the Axis I Scale of the DSM. She also developed the Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ) to diagnose the disorder. Meeting five of the following symptoms were considered necessary to be diagnosed.1. Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (think about previous online activity or anticipate next online session)?2. Do you feel the need to use the Internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction?3. Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use?4. Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use? 5. Do you stay online longer than originally intended?6. Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet?7. Have you lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet?8. Do you use the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)?Other Symptoms Include:• Failed attempts to control behavior• Heightened sense of euphoria while involved in computer and Internet activities• Neglecting friends and family• Neglecting sleep to stay online• Being dishonest with others• Feeling guilty, ashamed, anxious, or depressed as a result of online behavior• Physical changes such as weight gain or loss, backaches, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome • Withdrawing from other pleasurable activities

1. Power down at mealtimes. This means no television, computers or texting. This is the time to really connect with each other without the technological distractions that can be so overwhelming throughout the day. 2. No computers in kids' bedrooms until at least high school. Please trust me on this one. The risks just aren't worth it. Keep computers in public areas of your house, and regularly monitor their usage. 3. Limit or eliminate television viewing on school nights. You'll be amazed at the impact this will have on your family. Kids play games, become creative and interact with us and their siblings. 4. No social media networks until at least high school, and supervise their use. Many kids just don't have the impulse control to adequately control this technology, and the effects on them and others can be substantial. 5. Supervise cell phone use, including texting. You need to be guided by the maturity of your child, but irresponsible behavior should result in increased supervision. 6. Learn about technology. Don't be afraid of texting, video-conferencing, iPads, or Facebook. They are fun and great ways to stay connected with your kids.

lets you customize and manage your family's access to games, movies and television

Gaming addiction is not yet classified as a mental health disorder or "true" addiction like gambling or alcohol addiction. However, some gamers clearly struggle to keep their playing habits under control and may place more importance on their gaming accomplishments than their happiness and success in the real world (e.g., academic achievement, friendships, relationships, career advancement, health, etc.). As gaming addiction becomes more of a concern for parents, spouses, families, educators, and those in the mental health community, it is important for those hoping to learn more about this issue to get their gaming addiction statistics and facts from reputable sources.

addictive Internet use can be defined as an impulse-control disorder that does not involve an intoxicant.

Talk About It Talk with your kids about the Internet, and encourage them to see it as a shared, open environment in which they have social responsibilities just as they would in any physical environment.With open discussion, you can set expectations about the behavior you expect from them, curb negativity and discourage behaviors such as secrecy, boundary-pushing or thrill-seeking. You can also emphasize that online safety is something you care about and will continue to examine.Keep in mind: Enjoy the Internet along with your children, and discuss the ways in which it brings value into your lives.Stay open to your kids' questions, and encourage them to share their Internet experiences with you without fear of punishment about what they read, see or experience.Discuss how to safely interact online with others, why kids should stay away from certain types of content and individuals, and that Internet rules are there to protect kids. Teach children to trust their instincts, and to come to you if something or someone online makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened. Stay calm and remind them that they are not in trouble for bringing issues to your attention. Praise their discretion.As kids get older, keep family communications about the Internet as open and positive as you can. Talk with your kids about their online friends and activities just as you would talk about other friends and activities.

Set Rules for Internet Use Lay out rules for Internet use, setting clear expectations for your kids' online habits. A good set of rules should include things like the amount of time kids are allowed to be online, what types of content are appropriate and who it's okay to chat with as well as proper online conduct and good Internet citizenship.Keep in mind: The most successful rules are those that are created collaboratively. Work with your kids to draw up an online family safety contract that the whole family can agree to and sign. Discuss the rules frequently. Remind them that the rules are in place to protect your family, and that strictly maintaining privacy online can lower the risk of being targeted by online predators. Tell kids that following the rules and keeping communications open will allow them to gain freedoms as they get older. Let them know that you will reevaluate the rules over time. You can reinforce the rules you set by enabling restrictions on your PC. Windows Live Family Safety lets you set parameters that can limit Internet searches, monitor and filter specific websites, receive detailed activity reports of your child’s online activities, and let you be in control of who your child can communicate with in Windows Live Spaces, Messenger, or Hotmail1.

Balance Time Online Maintaining a balance between entertainment and other activities in kids' lives can be a serious challenge. The Internet has made it even more difficult, as the lines between entertainment and education are often blurred. Modeling a healthy balance between your online and offline activities is a great way to encourage children to do the same.Keep in mind: Enforce rules about the amount of time your kids may spend online, and the hours they are allowed to go online. Help your kids develop self-control, discipline and accountability regarding Internet use. Use parental controls in Windows 7 to limit PC time. Set up individual user accounts to determine how much computer time children have and what hours of the day they are allowed to use the PC, as well as which programs and games they can access.Encourage and support their participation in other activities — particularly physical pastimes with other children. If your child is reluctant, look for offline activities that tap into the same interests your kids pursue online. Watch for signs of Internet dependency. If Internet use seems excessive or begins to affect your child's school performance, health or relationships, consider professional counseling for Internet addiction.

Diverse opinions are critical to constructive dialog. Diversity enriches a group. But there is a line between constructive critical thinking and behavior which demeans individuals and potentially destroys communities. It is a fine line with no obvious answer for a facilitator. The goal of this piece is to think about how to support diverse and divergent thinking while reducing the likelihood of personal conflict and group destruction. And this conflict often arises due to misunderstanding. So it is about conflict beteen people, not between ideas. This is an important distinction!

  Internet addiction is described as an impulse control disorder which does not involve the use of a drug and is similar to pathological gambling.

Web obsession has a few signs

Preoccupation with the internet

The Causes of Internet Addiction Although the causes of Internet addiction differ depending on the teen in question, experts at Stone Mountain School, a private boarding school for boys in North Carolina, have observed the following common precursors to Internet addiction: Low self-esteem Poor self-image Lack of achievements Feeling undervalued A feeling of lack of control over one’s life A feeling of being trapped Lack of a structured environment Stress and real-world problems Difficulty making and sustaining relationships Strained home environment Lack of community or friends Difficulty regulating persistent negative emotions Lack of a stimulating learning environment Lack of opportunities for mastery Lack of opportunities for exploration Lack of opportunity to play

Although the causes of Internet addiction differ depending on the teen in question, experts at Stone Mountain School, a private boarding school for boys in North Carolina, have observed the following common precursors to Internet addiction: Low self-esteem Poor self-image Lack of achievements Feeling undervalued A feeling of lack of control over one’s life A feeling of being trapped Lack of a structured environment Stress and real-world problems Difficulty making and sustaining relationships Strained home environment Lack of community or friends Difficulty regulating persistent negative emotions Lack of a stimulating learning environment Lack of opportunities for mastery Lack of opportunities for exploration Lack of opportunity to play Warning Signs of Internet Addiction Computers are going to remain a central part of American life, so it is essential for parents to learn ways to monitor their child’s computer use and detect the symptoms of Internet addiction. The experts at Stone Mountain School advise parents to watch for the following signs of Internet addiction: Preoccupation with the Internet Change in eating habits, sleep patterns or school performance Physical ailments such as numbness in the hands, eye strain, weight gain or loss, and headaches, back aches or neck aches Neglecting personal hygiene Missing school or work to surf the Web Refusing to do chores or fulfill other responsibilities because of Internet time Using the Internet longer than allowed or desired An inability to cut back on Internet use Giving up previously enjoyable activities in order to spend more time on the Internet Neglecting friends and family in favor of spending time on the computer Defensiveness or efforts to hide or lie about Internet use Becoming irritable when unable to use the Internet Isolating oneself socially or viewing the Internet as an escape Like other forms of addiction, Internet addicts experience difficulty quitting, tolerance (craving more and more screen time) and withdrawal (irritability, anxiety and boredom) when not using the Internet.

Warning Signs of Internet Addiction Computers are going to remain a central part of American life, so it is essential for parents to learn ways to monitor their child’s computer use and detect the symptoms of Internet addiction. The experts at Stone Mountain School advise parents to watch for the following signs of Internet addiction: Preoccupation with the Internet Change in eating habits, sleep patterns or school performance Physical ailments such as numbness in the hands, eye strain, weight gain or loss, and headaches, back aches or neck aches Neglecting personal hygiene Missing school or work to surf the Web Refusing to do chores or fulfill other responsibilities because of Internet time Using the Internet longer than allowed or desired An inability to cut back on Internet use Giving up previously enjoyable activities in order to spend more time on the Internet Neglecting friends and family in favor of spending time on the computer Defensiveness or efforts to hide or lie about Internet use Becoming irritable when unable to use the Internet Isolating oneself socially or viewing the Internet as an escape Like other forms of addiction, Internet addicts experience difficulty quitting, tolerance (craving more and more screen time) and withdrawal (irritability, anxiety and boredom) when not using the Internet.