What is the Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA) program?

ITAA is a 12-step recovery program that helps people overcome compulsive internet and technology use, similar to how Alcoholics Anonymous supports people with substance addictions.

How did Lauren's technology addiction start?

Lauren's addiction began when she was 8 years old, feverishly playing the Nintendo 64 gaming console and prioritizing it over other important aspects of her life.

What were the consequences of Lauren's technology addiction?

Lauren's addiction nearly caused her to fail out of high school, and as an adult, it led to her neglecting her basic needs and living in squalor. She even contemplated suicide due to the debilitating effects of her addiction.

Home / Health / Former Tech Addict Overcomes Addiction Through 12-Step Recovery Program

Former Tech Addict Overcomes Addiction Through 12-Step Recovery Program

12 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Woman's tech addiction began with Nintendo 64 as a child
Addiction led to poor academic performance, suicidal thoughts
Found recovery through new 12-step program for internet/tech addiction

In November 2025, a woman named Lauren shared her story of overcoming a debilitating technology addiction that began in her childhood. As an 8-year-old in the 1990s, Lauren was "feverishly playing" the Nintendo 64 gaming console, prioritizing it over making friends or doing homework. This pattern continued as she grew older, with her tech use taking over her life and nearly causing her to fail out of high school.

At the height of her addiction in adulthood, Lauren says she would scroll online for hours on end, neglecting her basic needs and living in squalor. She felt trapped in a "living nightmare" and couldn't understand why she was so unhappy. It wasn't until she discovered a new 12-step program called Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA) that she was able to recognize her compulsive internet and technology use as a true addiction.

Through ITAA, which borrows principles from Alcoholics Anonymous, Lauren has been in recovery for the past three years. She now understands how to use technology in a healthy, balanced way that supports her life, rather than controlling it. Lauren's journey highlights the growing awareness of internet and technology addiction as a serious mental health issue, and the emergence of specialized support programs to help people reclaim their lives.