system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
I'm a miserable and inadequate PhD student, should I drop out?

So, I'm at the end of my second year in a nationally-ranked Microbiology program (USA). I got a conditional pass on my qual last month, and my revisions are due in a couple days and I really have doubts about whether they will be accepted by my committee. I'm going to put in my best effort for this revision, but even if I pass, I still think I need to leave..Here's why:

I've always been kind of behind the curve when it comes to academics, but since I managed to get as far as a PhD program I kind of assumed it was just imposter syndrome. Fast forward to now, and I've barely made any progress on my projects despite a very supportive, hands-on advisor. I consistently make careless mistakes, forget to record experimental notes, etc. and I am in general just not a good researcher. My advisor has had several, very nice, but still "scary" talks with me about this, and I always say I'll improve, and genuinely try to for a few weeks, but it doesn't seem to stick. I've seen a few psychs, tried taking antidepressants, ADHD meds (all prescribed) and in the end none of it helps. I dread going to lab, reading papers, coming up with research ideas, all of it. Basically, I think that I just don't love scientific research enough to discipline myself to be good at it.

I worked for two years in industry before starting my PhD and those were the happiest, most carefree years of my life, despite not making a ton of money. I got really good at the few experiments my job entailed, and looking back, I could have definitely climbed the ranks to achieve a comfier salary. I just thought I had to get a PhD because that's "what everyone does".

Looking forward, I think I'd be much happier back at a 9-5, making enough money to save a little each month and invest, getting official paid vacation, etc. My program is kind of stingy about mastering out, so I doubt I'd be able to leave with a masters, but I still feel so much relief when I think about quitting.

Tl;DR: Has anyone quit a PhD and not regretted it? How did you go about finding a job, and when did you tell your supervisor and your peers? The biggest things I'm worried about are 1) hurting/disappointing my supervisor and feeling like I utterly wasted her time and funding 2) being judged by my peers 3) not being able to find a job without listing my supervisor as a reference. 4) regretting the decision several years from now.

TY in advance!!
gpt
You said you were in industry for a couple of years before and were happy doing that, which is great because it means you have some experience and can jump back in. You haven't failed and don't need a PhD to be successful in life.