Part 8/15:
Rich's own battle with alcoholism, which began subtly in his early twenties, culminated in chaos. His days involved sleeping in unkempt apartments, hallucinations, and repeated jail incidents. It was only after hit after hit—DUIs, a marriage collapse, rejection from friends—that he finally recognized his need for help.
The Significance of Hitting 'Rock Bottom'
Rich clarifies that "your rock bottom is what you decide it to be"; it’s a subjective threshold. His own bottom was a series of incidents, including DUIs, but the true turning point was when his physical health failed dramatically. At one point, climbing a flight of stairs led to chest tightness and breathlessness—an eerie preview of imminent health disaster.