It's an interesting feeling of liberation when you hit rock bottom.  When your
worst fears come to reality and you face them.  And you must.
At first, yes your world collapses.  There is the time period of self
destructiveness.  After that passes but before you pick up the pieces there is
a different sensation of invincibility.  And why not?  That which you feared
the most, that which you had built up in your head that would utterly destroy
you has happened.  And you are still breathing.  Goddam!  If you can beat that
you can beat anything.
There is elation there.  You are a physical and emotional wreck.  You want to
scream when somebody asks 'how are you?' in that polite way that says they
don't really care.
But it doesn't bother you, because you've dealt with it.  You beat it.
Get outta my way, Superman, cause I'm ready for this day and I know what's
important for me.  I'm going to go after that with a power you can't imagine.
Hell yeah.  Anything the world throws at you now is peanuts compared to what
you've been through.
And so you stand up.  Taller.  Stronger.  Fearless.