Know how you feel!
I remember waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when I was about 10, and ZX Spectrum's were, like, BIG! And I was playing R-Type - and couldn't get anywhere past level 3!
I ended up breaking at least 12 joysticks (remember them?!) and one night I accidentally pulled the power pack out of the back, and threw it out of my bedroom window.
Then I had to buy a new one...
But it did get frustrating tho!