You can absolutely work in the field. I do actually. It is a long road. I went to school for about 7 years. Luckily, I found a job that values their employees and they realize that many counselors also suffer from anxiety and other mental health issues, so they give us a lot of days off that we can use to avoid burnout, which is good for someone like me. I do have to take time off from time to time when I'm experiencing issues with my mental health, so finding a supportive work environment is important once you are ready to work in the field.

I promise you that your goal is not out of reach. As having Bipolar 1, it has been challenging, but helping others actually provides me with a good outlet. It helps to have inside knowledge about what it feels like, first hand, to suffer from a mental health condition.

Also, it makes it even easier to empathize and understand others. This is not to say that the job isn't tough, but it is rewarding. You sound very compassionate, and that is key in the mental health field. I'm sure you'll have a lot to bring to the table if you choose to work in mental health.