Step 5 AA – Get Rid Of All That Baggage

“Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another
 human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”

Step five is all about confession. While this step is connected to confession to God, this does not need to be the case for non-religious members. Next, we will clarify the alternatives to God for confession and how you implement this step successfully. 

This post is part of a 15 part look into the 12 Step Program and how it can be used to help in alcohol addiction and recovery. The full 15 part book can be downloaded for free by Clicking Here

What Is Step 5?

As mentioned in the introduction, step five is all about confession. It can be about confessing your wrong to God, but also another person depending on your religious beliefs. Consequently, this step requires taking the personal inventory of your wrongs from Step 4 and confessing them honestly and truthfully here in Step 5.

Step five has a number of goals. Firstly, it reduces common problems associated with addiction such as anxiety, depression, and irritability, which are often caused by hiding your flaws on a long-term basis. As a result, you reintegrate in regular society and can start socialising with your environment normally. 

How Do I Do Step 5?

To execute step five properly, it is important to confess some of your most distressing memories. While many religious members choose to confess to God, other members prefer to confess to another person such as their sponsor or another trusted person in their environment (close friend or family). 

It is important to be as honest as you can during step five. While speaking about embarrassing and distressing memories is difficult, speaking about them honestly will enable your journey forward and promote your recovery. 

During step five, it is completely normal to be vulnerable. Obviously, this is not an easy step for many people, especially after years of believing you were in control. However, there is nothing wrong with being vulnerable. In fact, it is required to confess properly and will only benefit your recovery down the road.

Finally, if you confess to another person, then it is likely that person will provide you with some advice on how to move forward. It is important to keep an open mind during this process. Be accepting towards advice and consider it truthfully and honestly.

Please note that you are not obligated to confess to another person (of course you’re not obligated to do any of this if you don’t think it is right for you – take what you need and leave the rest behind). If you have placed your trust in a higher power, it is more than enough to tell this higher power. Of course, some people prefer to make their confession to another person. At the end of the day, it is all about what is right for you.

What Are The Common Pitfalls And How Do I Avoid Them?

Every step has its pitfalls, and it is the same for step five. Here are some of the most common pitfalls you can encounter and how you can avoid them. 

Personal reservations: Many people feel hesitant about confessing because they wrongfully believe that they will be judged for their past actions. Because of these reservations, they often leave important parts of their confessions out. Consequently, this means that certain memories can still be a trigger or cause substantial guilt down the line. Therefore, it is vital to let go of reservations completely.

Fear: One of the biggest obstacles during step five is fear. This fear can take on many forms. It can be fear to reveal memories that are very embarrassing to you personally. It can also be fear to be judged (as mentioned previously), or a fear to confront certain memories head on. 

Fear is one of the most powerful emotions a human being can experience. Evidently, this can also bring other problems such as anxiety and depression. If fear is an issue that is hindering your progress, it is essential to speak someone about it. There is additional help available for those who struggle from fear-related mental health issues, which may have to be tackled in order for you to move forward confidently and clearly. While it is not the case for everyone, self-knowledge is the best course forward.

Self-esteem: During the confession step, you will undoubtedly encounter issues with your own self-esteem. And this is one of the things you will be working on during step five as well, as confession helps you rebuild your value in yourself. You learn that you are worthy of forgiveness, so this is one of the things you will need to tackle during step five.

For many members, it helped them to confess to another person. This because confessing to another person often gave them an audible validation of their feelings. While those choosing to only confess to God can do so, it can certainly be helpful to confess to another person as well. 

Addiction sufferers should know that building self-esteem takes time. So, while step five will help build your self-esteem, it is important to know that building self-esteem is a process that you must keep investing time in. 

The train station: A helpful technique that could counter some of the common pitfalls of step five could be the train station technique. If you struggle during step five, you should see it as a train station, where you drop all your hurtful memories and past experiences at the station. This enables you to take a new train to a relaxing destination, leaving all the unhelpful baggage behind. For those who struggle with any of the pitfalls, implementing the train station technique can provide them with some strength.

How Will I Know When I Am Ready To Move Onto Step 6?

It is usually a good idea to ask yourself some questions before you move onto step six. Ask yourself if you forgot to confess something, this is often the case with some of the most difficult memories. Nevertheless, it is important to confess everything and get rid of all that baggage before you move on. 

You are ready to move on if you confessed your most difficult memories. Signs of success also include no longer clinging on previous memories or thoughts that are no longer helpful to you. It is also a positive sign if you see how step five had a positive influence on your life overall, and that you have now started building your self-esteem again.