It feels like you're at the bottom of a pit that's been filled in over top of you with bricks. But then you grow some balls, break your back to improve your life and every so often you get to look back and see how far you've come.

Eventually through hard work and determination you realize along the path to saving yourself you've developed qualities that make you invaluable as a human being and you get to feel good about what you've accomplished. But unlike most around you who 'made it,' you know exactly what desperate feels like and are better off for it.

In future dealings you're better educated and make fewer mistakes because you've grown as a person in every way.

In essence? Rock bottom is horrible but there's no better feeling in the world than making something of yourself against the odds.