Outlook anonymous: 12 steps to e-mail detox

For years I had everything under control. All my friends were into it. I could quit at any time.

It started with a little hit here and there – maybe once or twice a week.

No biggie.

Then I started doing it at work. And at home. Holidays were also fair game. Before long I was taking extra trips to restaurant bathrooms just to get my fix. My relationships suffered. My parents disapproved. I couldn't concentrate at work. I was a slave to my habit.

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem so here goes: My name is Leah and I am an e-mailaholic.

The idea of technology addiction is nothing new (look up the term “crackberry” in any slang dictionary for details), but what about the idea of treatment?

We joke about being hooked, but when it comes to coping we don't take the problem seriously. Why? Because our culture condones it.