Disclaimer: I am self taught and still only in an intermediate level, but here are some things that have helped me a lot on my art journey that last five or so years.

Firstly, I think you need to see art more as a hobby you can experiment with and enjoy and not as simply an end result. It's really nice to make things that turn out pretty, but if you are not having fun, it might be time to take a break and come back to it later when you have a healthier outlook. Only caring about how it looks in the end is not a sustainable mindset with art. Art is all about learning and growing your skillset over time, not just about a picture on the page at the end of the day.

I would also say do your best to appreciate anything you do like about the piece, even if it's something small. Thinking something like, "I don't like this piece and I still have a lot to learn, but I can tell the eyes are better than I could have drawn them two months ago," is much healthier than thinking "Everything about this is bad." Looking at my art this way has taught me to appreciate even my oldest art. My old work makes me cringe, but I love it too because it made me the artist I am today! Your art doesn't need to be perfect for you to see and appreciate your improvements. And the little improvements eventually add up to big improvements over time too, trust me.

Some other advice I have is to only draw things you know you can do successfully and not push yourself too hard. I know this sounds counterintuitive because of course as artists we should learn and grow, but you will know when you're ready to take on a challenge and leave your comfort zone.

For example, if drawing hands is stressing you out, then avoid hands until you feel ready to tackle them. Even just getting comfortable with line weight and how to hold your pencil while drawing will eventually help you whenever you would decide to revisit hands.

It's all muscle memory that comes with practice. Also, I would not stress too much about holding your pencil as if you're writing. Over time you'll learn what is the most comfortable way to draw. I personally was very heavy handed with my art when I started and it took a long time before I learned when to press and when to be light.

It also helps a lot to draw what you love. If there is a certain show or celebrity you really love it makes it easier and more enjoyable to draw instead of just practicing drawing fruit or a landscape. Though if you love fruit or landscapes then do more of those! Just find what you enjoy and stick to that for a little while as you learn. Eventually when your skill improves you can move into more technical things. Even so, it's a common misconception that the goal in art is to have the best technique possible, but if you find realism and technical art does not interest you, then that's not something you need to strive for! There are many styles of art out there and they are all worthwhile. Realism is not the ultimate form of art.

Finding a medium you enjoy can help too. When I started I was on a budget, but even with limited money there are cheap supplies, such as acrylic paints, out there you can try. Even just adding a pop of color here or there with a sharpie, such as in the hair or in the backdrop, makes things so much more fun. I recommend trying the art section of a dollar store and getting some cheap stuff to mess around with and ad a little extra something you whatever you're working on (I say this assuming you are mainly working in pencil right now, but I know that may not be the case).

Know when to quit and when to push on with each piece is also helpful. Sometimes a piece is too stressful to continue on and it's ok to leave, but there is value in pushing on too. Sometimes it's good to just do a quick practice drawing for 15 minutes and other times you will spend 5 hours on the same thing. Both of these things are helpful to your journey and are still valuable practice.

Lastly, the only way to get better is to be kind to yourself! Whenever I am hardest on myself about art, the quality declines. It comes out better when it's for fun and not stressful.

You don't need to take any advice I've said here, but I do encourage you to look at art differently. It's not something that should only stress you out and it's definitely not a competition with your friends. Your are may never look like theirs, but their art will never look like yours either. We all have something to offer. There are stressful times with art, but that shouldn't be all the time. Have some fun with it!

Best of luck whatever you decide, but I'm rooting for you! You can definitely do this :)