STOP!
You do NOT need the opinions and half-baked theories of a bunch of strangers on the internet. This is not helping you.
You have a medical team; you are under treatment; you are working with someone to evaluate and map out your professional options. There is no need to add the voices of a bunch of strangers to the inputs you are receiving.
Stop asking the questions and you will move towards a healthy balance between your concerns about moving forward professionally and the reality that you cannot change the past. You attended the institutions you attended; you faced the challenges that came your way; chewing this over won’t change the past. BUT it can trip up your recovery quite significantly-- and I think you have enough insight now to realize that these random internet queries trigger you into a cycle of self-doubt and despair.
So stop. Continue seeing your therapist- keep up the good work with your meds; get healthy and the rest will follow.
We’re all rooting for you! And pro-tip: try eliminating the word “settle” from your vocabulary. It has a pejorative association which you do not need, and frankly, isn’t relevant or helpful. I work with career changers all the time and you would be stunned to see how happy and successful some people are when they “settle”. Sometimes aligning your interests, stamina, need for balance in your life, and putting your health first isn’t “settling”-- it’s reaching for the stars and grabbing hold!
You aren’t settling. You are moving ahead with the help of professionals who can assist you in figuring out where you need to be right now.