Maybe the Caro is not for you. Did you just randomly pi k the Caro and sa y "This is what I am going to play"? Or were you studying subjects like endgames, tactic, and strategy, and played a bunch of games, and before you even knew what an opening was, were you playing c6 and d5 as Black?
If it didn't come to you naturally, like the latter scenario, maybe the Caro is not for you. No two people are the same. Just because a friend or another user played it, say, against you, doesn't mean you can play it with success.
Everyone is different. If the position is odd to you, play what comes to you naturally.
The Petroff and French come to me naturally. Someone else I know plays the Accelerated Dragon. Another plays the Alekhine (though he does lose often). Another plays 1...e5 and allows the Ruy Lopez and he plays the Moller.
You have to find your niche. Let the opening come to you. Don't force yourself into something that does not make sense to you.
I have trouble mastering this opening despite trying.
Usually I do not encounter the variations theory.
For example what’s the play here? When take the d4 pawn the position becomes odd….
