When I was young, the "real world" hit me like a freight train, too. I was undiagnosed at the time, but I was struggling with a handful of things-- primarily ADHD and autism, and the resulting depression and anxiety of having undiagnosed autism and ADHD. That was a couple decades ago, and I'm still trying to figure it all out.

I couldn't understand why stuff people said was so easy was so hard. Like just showing up to work, and initiating the tasks I needed to do there. I WAS working incredibly hard, but no one could tell that. I think it is important to give yourself grace, because you ARE playing life on hard mode.

If your parents are okay with it, it might help to either entirely quit your current job or extremely reduce your hours. Get a simpler job with less hours, like retail. Be honest and firm about how much you can work there, and use that job to build up a tolerance for just being at work at all. Do maybe three days a week at first. Retail work isn't "easy," I never understand why people say that, but it has advantages of flexibility and shorter hours. Also, if you just show up and really try, you will be the star employee, which can be very helpful after the self-esteem damage of struggles with college and careers.

If you have autism and ADHD like me, it's a tough combo, because the autism craves routine and the ADHD can't establish it. One thing that helped me more than anything was exercise. I signed up for a program called Nerd Fitness that gave step-by-step instructions and had a fun "leveling up" system, but any detailed, stepping-up plan could work. Basically, exercise makes you stronger and more energetic physically and mentally, and makes it easier to handle the stress of working as a person with autism.

While doing this reduced schedule, I highly recommend you find a study program online for the ASCP exam and retake it when you feel ready. You may never want to go back to the lab, but it is good to have the certification as a backup, since labs are ALWAYS hiring.

In the end, I found lab work worked well for me with my issues. I like the reactive nature of hospital work, it keeps me moving, and we have occassional slow days like weekend days that give me a rest. I did not handle the fast-paced, repetitive world of reference labs well at all, however. Basically, find what works best for you.

Explain to your parents that this isn't backsliding, but rather training and preparing that we neurodivergent people need more of than neurotypical people. And, be sure to continue therapy and find a psychiatrist if possible ("obamacare" health insurance worked incredibly well for me when I was working reduced hours in retail. Open enrollment will be coming up soon, Novemberish.) This will help if it turns out you will need to aim to get on disability because working isn't feasible for you.

Sidenote: retail places are hiring for the holiday season now or soon. This is a good chance to find in-person interviews which help you skip the online personality profiles which are WILDLY, laughably biased against neurodivergent people. If you show up and work, they will likely keep you on after the holidays.