Recovery article

Step 5 of AA: Admitting the Exact Nature of Your Wrongs

Step 5 is where you share your Step 4 inventory with another person. It's the step that breaks isolation and makes real change possible.

Article summary

Step 5 is where you share your Step 4 inventory with another person. It's the step that breaks isolation and makes real change possible.

Key topics include Step 5: "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.", Why You Can't Skip Step 5, Who to Tell.

What this article covers

  • Step 5: "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."
  • Why You Can't Skip Step 5
  • Who to Tell
  • The "Exact Nature" Phrase

Frequently asked questions

What is Step 5 of Alcoholics Anonymous?

Step 5 of AA is: "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." It involves sharing your Step 4 inventory out loud with your sponsor or another trusted person. The Big Book states that people who skip Step 5 are likely to relapse, because secrets and isolation feed addiction.

Who do you do Step 5 with in AA?

Most people do their Step 5 with their sponsor. Others use a clergy member, a therapist, or a trusted friend in recovery. The person should hold what you share in confidence, have some experience with recovery, and be someone who will not be harmed by hearing your story.

What does "exact nature" mean in Step 5?

"Exact nature" means getting beneath the specific event to the character defect driving it. Not just "I stole money from my family" but "I was dishonest and self-centered." Step 5 asks for the underlying pattern, not just the surface incident.