Knowing how to do Step 5 in Alcoholics Anonymous starts with a simple plan. The step asks you to admit the exact nature of your wrongs to God, yourself, and another human being.
A practical way to approach it is to review your Step 4 inventory. Then, choose a trusted listener. Share at a pace that feels safe.
This guide separates AA’s published wording from practical suggestions. It does not pressure you to disclose before you feel ready or safe.
Our directory editorial team is not a treatment provider. We explain AA literature here, and this is not medical advice.
What Step 5 Means in AA
Step 5 asks you to admit the exact nature of your wrongs to God, to yourself, and to another human being.[1] This step comes right after Step 4, where you made a searching and fearless moral inventory.[2]
The goal is not just to read your list out loud. Instead, you share the deeper truth behind your actions with someone you trust. This helps break the shame and isolation that often fuel addiction.
Prepare Your Fourth Step Inventory
Step 4 is where you create a "searching and fearless moral inventory" of yourself.[2] Step 5 is where you share that inventory with another person.[1] While Step 5 asks you to admit the exact nature of your wrongs, the actual work of listing them happens in Step 4.
There is no single required format for this inventory. Many people use worksheets found online or in local groups, though these are third-party resources rather than official AA materials. You might write in a journal, use a printed sheet, or simply reflect deeply. The goal is honesty, not perfect organization.
To create the inventory, you typically review three main areas: resentments, fears, and sexual conduct. For each entry, you might note:
- Who or what caused the feeling: Identify the person, institution, or principle involved.
- The specific hurt or fear: Describe exactly what happened or what you are afraid of.
- Your role: Reflect on how your own actions, expectations, or reactions contributed to the situation.
- The impact: Consider how holding onto this resentment or fear affects your current life.
As you review your notes, look for patterns. You do not need to fix these issues right now. This step is about seeing them clearly so you can share them openly.
Sharing your inventory is different from making amends in Step 9. That step comes later and involves repairing harm done to others. Here, the focus is on being honest with yourself and your listener.
Before You Share
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Choose a Listener and Discuss Privacy
Picking who to talk to is a personal choice. You might choose an AA sponsor, but you can ask questions about their experience and approach before you decide.
Look for someone you trust, who feels comfortable, and who has time. It helps if they can stay present without judging or pushing you.
Think about the details. Agree on where to meet, how much time to set aside, and what boundaries feel right. Decide what to do if either person needs a break. This groundwork can make the conversation feel safer.
AA’s traditions protect anonymity in public settings, but that doesn’t guarantee privacy in a one-to-one chat. Always ask your listener directly about what they can keep private. If you consider sharing with a licensed psychologist, remember that professional confidentiality rules differ from peer conversations.[3]
| Possible Listener | Why They Might Be a Good Fit | Questions to Ask First |
|---|---|---|
| AA Sponsor or Member | Shared experience with recovery and the steps | How do you handle sensitive topics? What are your limits? |
| Trusted Person Outside AA | Familiarity with your life outside recovery circles | Are you comfortable listening without trying to fix things? |
| Clergy or Other Support | Spiritual guidance or neutral perspective | What are your privacy practices? Can we take breaks if needed? |
A Practical Sequence for the Conversation
There is no official script for Step 5. The sequence below is a practical aid to help you feel prepared. You can adjust it to fit your comfort level. If you feel overwhelmed, it is okay to pause, ask questions, or schedule another time to continue.
This approach aligns with general principles of trustworthiness, collaboration, and choice found in trauma-informed care guidelines.[4] These are editorial suggestions to help you stay safe and empowered, not rules from AA.
- Review your inventory and mark questions. Look over what you wrote down. Highlight areas that feel confusing or hard to say out loud. This helps you know where you might need extra support during the talk.
- Agree on logistics and boundaries. Talk with your listener about when and where to meet. Decide together what privacy looks like for both of you. Knowing the plan ahead of time can reduce anxiety about what to expect when working Step 5.
- Start by naming your feelings. You don’t have to jump straight into details. It is often helpful to begin by saying what feels difficult or unclear right now. This sets a tone of honesty and invites your listener to meet you where you are.
- Share at a pace that feels manageable. Go through your inventory one item at a time. Describe your own actions and concerns without making excuses for harm done, but also without forcing yourself to share unnecessary graphic details if they aren’t needed for your healing. Being abused or coerced is not a wrong you need to confess. Focus only on your own actions, and share no details you do not want to share. If this brings up trauma or feels unsafe, pause and consider talking with a licensed clinician.
- Pause and plan for support afterward. Check in with yourself halfway through if needed. Ask for clarification if something doesn’t land right. Before you finish, agree on what kind of support would help you most after the conversation ends, whether that’s a walk, a meal, or just some quiet time alone.
Examples and Worksheet-Style Prompts
Having a few questions in front of you can make the conversation easier. The examples below are prompts and topic categories. They are not sample confessions or model answers. There is no "right" way to do this work. Your experience belongs to you, and you decide what to share.
AA Step 5 Examples
When you look for AA Step 5 examples, you may find stories from other members. Those can show what is possible, but they are not a script. Try using simple questions instead. Let them help you recall what happened, what you felt, and what you did or avoided. Think about how your actions affected others too.
Here is a brief, fictional illustration of how someone might share a single item from their Fourth Step inventory. This is just one way to phrase it, not a required script or a model answer.
Illustration: "I noticed resentment building when my coworker didn't pull their weight on the project. Instead of talking to them directly, I avoided them and complained to others behind their back. I felt justified at the time, but looking back, I see that my avoidance created tension in the team and hurt my own integrity."
The table below pairs broad areas of reflection with example questions. Use them as starting points for your own inventory. You do not need to answer every question. You do not need to name anyone or fill in a specific event unless you choose to.
| Area to reflect on | Example question |
|---|---|
| Resentment | What happened that left me feeling resentful? What did I feel at the time? What did I do or avoid doing because of that feeling? How did my response affect the other person? |
| Fear | Where does fear show up in my life right now? What am I afraid of losing or facing? How has fear shaped my choices recently? Who has been affected by the ways I let fear lead? |
| Relationship or sexual conduct | In my close relationships, where have I acted in a way I am not proud of? What was happening when I made that choice? How did it affect the other person and me? What part of my own conduct do I want to discuss with my listener? |
Step 5 AA Worksheet and Questions
You may find a Step 5 AA worksheet online with fill-in-the-blank lines. These resources vary widely in tone and structure. Some are helpful reminders of the questions above. Others may feel too rigid or too casual for this work. Trust your own sense of what fits.
As you prepare, think about bringing a few optional questions into the conversation itself: "What am I unsure how to describe?" "Where would a pause help?" "What do I want to ask my listener?" These questions give your trusted person a chance to meet you where you are, rather than steering the discussion toward their expectations.
If you search for an AA Step 5 PDF or an AA Step 5 Worksheet PDF, start with current Alcoholics Anonymous literature pages for the official text of the steps and related guidance. Many third-party worksheets exist outside AA's published materials. They can still be useful tools, but it helps to know whether a document comes from AA itself or from another source so you can weigh its advice accordingly.
Spiritual Wording, Fear, and Readiness
Step 5 asks you to admit to God, yourself, and another human being the exact nature of your wrongs.[1] This guide shares common ways people approach this step, but it does not define how every member interprets the spiritual language. You are welcome to explore what faith or higher power means to you personally. For a separate discussion on the spiritual wording in another step, read AA Step 11 explained.
It is normal to feel afraid of judgment or shame. You have permission to ask questions before you begin. You can set boundaries about what you share. If you feel overwhelmed, you can pause the conversation. If a listener feels unsafe or unhelpful, you can choose someone else. There is no official rule that limits confession to specific sins. Be cautious with informal sayings that sound like strict doctrine unless they come from primary AA literature.
What Support Would Help Before You Share?
This self-check is for information only and isn't a diagnosis. It does not assess your recovery or decide if you are ready.
What May Happen After the Conversation
Finishing Step 5 is a milestone. But it doesn't lock in sobriety. And it doesn't force a quick choice about what comes next. Recovery is a process of change. Through it, people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential.[5] You can move at your own pace.
Finish or pause the conversation.
There's no deadline. Some people share everything in one sitting. Others return over several meetings.
Reflect and ask questions.
Talk through anything that felt hard with your sponsor or the person you shared with.
Consider Step 6 when ready.
The next step in AA's sequence asks you to become entirely ready to have God remove your character defects. Our guide to working through AA Step 6 explains what that looks like.
Keep meeting and connecting.
AA's current meeting finder and online meeting resources can help you find fellowship wherever you are.
Peer recovery and professional care can work side by side. Mutual-support groups like AA can complement professional treatment for alcohol use disorder.[6] At the same time, NIAAA lists behavioral treatments and medications among treatment options for alcohol use disorder.[7]
NIAAA also points to 12-step facilitation as a behavioral treatment approach. It is designed to encourage participation in 12-step mutual-support groups.[8] Its findings concern these broader interventions, not the effect of completing Step 5 alone.[9]
Choosing one path doesn't rule out the other. Guidelines recommend weighing your own preferences and clinical situation when picking a treatment.[10] If you want support beyond peer recovery, search treatment options near you and contact providers directly to ask about their services. For broader aftercare ideas, read our guide on planning for life after rehab.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I am afraid the person will judge me?
Fear of judgment is common, and you don't have to share everything all at once. Before you begin, tell the listener what worries you and ask how they will handle it if you need to pause or change the subject. You can take time to choose another listener or discuss your concerns with someone else first. There is no pressure to disclose more than you are ready to share.
Do I need a sponsor to do Step 5?
No, you do not strictly need a sponsor. AA’s published wording for Step 5 says, "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs," which names another person rather than a specific title.[1] A sponsor is one possible listener, but you can choose anyone you trust. Ask about their approach beforehand so you feel comfortable.
Does AA prescribe a Fifth Step prayer?
AA does not prescribe a specific prayer for Step 5. The published text describes an admission of the exact nature of your wrongs, not a set prayer.[1] While some individuals may choose to pray before or after the conversation, it is not a requirement of the step itself.
What are the only two sins in AA?
There is no official list of "two sins" in Alcoholics Anonymous. This phrase sometimes appears in informal discussions or specific groups, but it is not part of AA’s official literature or steps. The Step 5 wording focuses on admitting the exact nature of one's wrongs rather than defining specific sins.[1] Treat this phrase as personal interpretation rather than formal doctrine.
What happens after Step 5?
Step 6 follows next in the sequence, which focuses on becoming willing to have defects removed. Discuss timing and questions with your listener or sponsor rather than viewing the steps as a strict deadline. Making amends comes later in the process, specifically in Steps 8 and 9, so they are not part of the Step 5 conversation itself.
