You are not doing anything wrong. You're just like every single other human ever to exist. The way you describe your problem makes me believe that some manner of Zen/Mindfulness approach would be appealing to you.
"I have a difficult time relating attempted solutions because I'm still not sure what the problem is."
To me, this says that you've already found the fundamental truth of desire-- you cannot sate it with its own ends, as counterintuitive as that is. I realize this is starting to sounds like the dreaded "get religion" solution, but there's no magic or mystery in these approaches. Just 2500 years of close examination human life.
Two specific, small things:
I recommend a short, easy book, "Everyday Zen" by Charlotte Joko Beck.
Try to sit still and just breathe for around 20 minutes. It's just as easy and just as hard as it sounds.
"I have a difficult time relating attempted solutions because I'm still not sure what the problem is."
To me, this says that you've already found the fundamental truth of desire-- you cannot sate it with its own ends, as counterintuitive as that is. I realize this is starting to sounds like the dreaded "get religion" solution, but there's no magic or mystery in these approaches. Just 2500 years of close examination human life.
Two specific, small things: I recommend a short, easy book, "Everyday Zen" by Charlotte Joko Beck. Try to sit still and just breathe for around 20 minutes. It's just as easy and just as hard as it sounds.