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

This is about sharing our inventory with God, another person and hearing it ourselves.

"We begin to get a true understanding of who we actually are".

It helps to have a fifth step person who is acquainted with the 12 Step Program. "We do not want him or her to excuse our behavior or try to fix us, but simply to be the witness to our honest inventory. While this person may give insight, encouragement, or suggestions, he or she is primarily a listener. For this to be a positive and successful experience, it is important that this person be trustworthy and understanding, someone who will not betray our condifence and with whom we feel comfortable. This person must also be accepting and non-judgemental."

Someone mentioned that a Step 5 can be like shedding old skin, or exposing old hidden secrets to the 'light'- and a feeling of renewal or cleansing afterwards. For others it was a more gradual feeling of relief, the sense of no longer being so isolated or alone or so strangely 'unique'.