Rock bottom.
It is the apex of failure. However, people seem to be under the impression that hitting rock bottom is a surprise. It’s not.
People say the phrase “hit rock bottom” as if it is a sudden instantaneous event. As if it is unexpected. It’s not. Besides, people don’t really “hit” rock bottom.
They dig there.
And I have never heard of anyone digging there with a shovel.
It is always their nails,
their fingers,
their hands.
No one hits rock bottom. They scrape it.