When I first heard about Step 10 in AA and NA, “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it”, I thought it sounded exhausting. I was already tired from the work of earlier steps, digging into my past and making amends. But now that I’m living in a rehabilitation centre, I’m starting to see it differently.
A Patient’s Perspective
Step 10 isn’t about beating myself up every day; it’s about staying honest with myself in real time. Here, surrounded by people who understand what it’s like to lose control to drugs or alcohol, I’ve learned that my mind can still twist things, even in sobriety. I can justify bad attitudes, snap at someone, or hide small mistakes.
Step 10 forces me to stop, notice, and own it before it grows into something bigger. The counsellors talk about self-awareness, emotional regulation, and catching distorted thinking early, things I never thought about before. In this rehabilitation centre, it’s been explained to me that recovery isn’t just about avoiding substances; it’s also about building the skills to live differently.
For me, it’s like keeping my side of the street clean every day instead of letting the rubbish pile up. I’ve started writing a quick nightly inventory: what I did well, where I messed up, and what I can do differently tomorrow. Sometimes I share it with my sponsor or a peer here, and it feels like a weight lifting off my chest. I’m also learning to watch for triggers – being hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, because those states make it harder to stay calm and honest.
The biggest shift for me is realising that Step 10 isn’t about perfection. I’m still impatient, still defensive sometimes, but now I catch it sooner and try to make it right. That’s progress. In this place, I’ve seen how quickly resentment or guilt can push someone toward relapse, and I don’t want to go back there. Step 10 helps me keep my recovery alive day by day.
Concluding Thoughts on Step 10 from Inside a Rehabilitation Centre
It’s not just a rule from a book; it’s becoming a way of living that keeps me connected, humble, and moving forward. Being here at Ocean Bay Recovery has shown me that honesty is not a punishment – it’s a tool that keeps me grounded. The rehabilitation centre setting makes it possible to practise this every day with support, rather than in isolation.
If you or someone you love is struggling, remember that you don’t have to do it alone. A supportive rehabilitation centre can make all the difference in building lasting recovery.