Its not retarded at all, Just stick at it and plan what you want to do, use the selection tools such as select shell, then convert selections to sew them together without selecting individual edges, have a read of the help files to see what each tool does and where it will help you out. use the hide selection to hide parts already mapped so you only see the bits that need to be mapped etc etc.

It's like anything you need to plan it and know what the best way to attack it is, which only comes from testing things out. Try getting a more simple model and trying that, also some tools are better suited to different shapes (such as organics and the unfold option)

Are you not following the tutorial for it, might be worth getting it to save you going insane