>I can't just walk into employment with my skillset

sure you can, give it a try

proficiency is talent on its own and being a self taught means only that you can learn (and being _very_ good at it, considering your story)

nothing's wrong with entry level job though, sounds like a solid place to start regardless of how much overqualified for that job you are - as long as you'll be doing what you love and there will be a clear promotion path for you

and even if there's none that job can still do you good if you threat it as a stepping stone - a warm up for better job to come

our past, things that happened before are important ofc but much more important things that will be, things that happens next

so chin up, looking forward to read your follow up success story in few months, best of luck!