I keep hearing stories such as " I had severe insert mental illness here now I'm getting my masters degree" yet I don't hear stuff like "I had severe mental illness now I'm living on my own making 6 figures."

I know baby steps, but eventually you're going to have to support yourself.  Supporting yourself with mental illness is what I want to hear.  Don't talk about the labor pains show me the baby.

You gotta remember that, supporting yourself is the end goal.  Cashing in on your mental illness is a death sentence.

And this is coming from someone with Autism, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar, and ADHD.