My first rock bottom was caused by depression and anxiety fully hitting me post-college, a tough job that wasn’t going well, then my longterm girlfriend (who I planned on marrying) cheating on me and breaking up over text message. Full on panic attacks, moving back home, suicidal ideation, the whole works. Therapy, exercise, and medication with SSRIs brought me out of the funk. I had a strong support network which made it easier.

My second rock bottom was during a period of intense professional stress, that through a strange sequence of events, almost resulted in serious legal consequences and potentially prison. Was some very dark days with similar suicidal ideation, panic attacks, etc. But I came out of it far stronger with much higher risk tolerance and knowledge of myself and capabilities.

Was I homeless? Tortured? Disabled? No. But for me, it was rock bottom, and I don’t want to be there again.