Hi trix, and welcome to CacheWalker, and Geocaching! 

Yes, patience is sometimes what it takes with Geocaching, but on some easier caches you need far less, if any, so perhaps you should stick to those whilst you do get practice, and then indeed you will get there 
Tips to avoid a very long search is to check the cache's Difficulty/Terrain rating before leaving  (lower the better!) and make sure the cache doesn't have strings of DNFs (did not finds), so that you don't join that list!  - hope that helps!

Feel free to join in wherever you like on the forum, it's been a bit quiet lately with all the warm weather, but it'll pick up - it does get very busy at times on here    Would be great if you could make it to one of our events too!