La noche oscura del alma was Saint John of the Cross' description. In Theravada Buddhism it is called the dukkha nanas. Aleister Crowley called it 'crossing the abyss' in A.'.A.'. literature. Every spiritual/mystical tradition I have looked at, has a description of this phenomena where a certain amount of awakening leaves you in an untenable position. Either you move forward and forever change your life, or you attempt to maintain the status quo, or retreat, and find only despair. It is nice to see it repeated among gawdless French intellectuals.
I think it is a common phenomena of many people who get caught up addiction, we gain some sort awareness/enlightenment early on and we unwilling or unable to move forward. Then we get the bright idea since nothing really matters, so might as well be high. Thanks JB.