Help with the English.

I've been playing e4 forever and a trash opening for black against everything for the past few years. It's time to switch openings to solid lines and new games. 

I like how insane the English is, I like the winning chances for the Sicilian but I don't like how many responses black has for the English and I don't like how deep you have to know main lines the the Sicilian. 

That said these are issues I will have to deal with but any suggestions on the best ways to learn these openings without losing any more of what's left of my mind? 

Regardless what opening you choose to play (English opening, or whatever other mainline), there will always be a lot of theory in particular variations and you can't prevent your opponent from entering deep theory if they want to.

Maybe pick an opening for yourself which is more about ideas than theory. All openings have some level of theory to them, but some openings are sharp and theoretical and following theory is a must; other openings have a lot more general plans and thematic ideas, but move order or exact theory isn't as important.

What kinds of positions do you like in an opening?

It all comes with experience. If you played something new , it will be strange but if you play it again and again you would know how to play against these. Study only one variation and if they play something like 1.c4 , g6. Learn english set ups.

Find a player you admire, sort his or her games to show only those where he or she played the English, and play through those games on your chess board. Following in the footsteps of a player you like is a fun way to improve.

The problem with the English is you must learn more than just the English.

You also must know the Reti, and in some cases, certain Queen Pawn Openings.

After 1.c4 c5 or 1.c4 e5 or 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 or 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 (or 3.Nf3), you have various lines of the English.

But the following scenarios lead to other openings:

1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 (or 3.b3) -Reti

1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 -Reti

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 and now all White has is 3.d4 or 3.cxd5 exd5 4.d4, both leading to a Queen's Gambit Declined. Same with 1.c4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 and the Slav.

Against the Kings Indian setup, pretty much all moves are bad except transposing to the kings indian defense.

In certain other cases, you wind up in a Catalan or the English Defense.

Would never suggest the English or Nimzo-Indian to those under 2000.

1.c4 e5 2.e3 Nf6 3.d4 leads to a Budapest Gambit and 1.c4 e5 2.e3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.exd4 d5 leads to a Scandinavian Defence: Icelandic-Palme Gambit before transposing to a Mikenas-Carls English after 5.Nc3 . Also a tricky and unknown line to deal with as an English player .

Another tricky and unknown line : 1.c4 e5 2.e3 d5 3.d4 leads to an Albin Countergambit

I'm not against learning theory, but I've been getting over 90% accuracy in a lot of my games with it without knowing the theory because it seems very positional to me.

I guess maybe I just want to know if there are any particular deep main lines I should try to go into, avoid, or at least know for higher level play?

1.c4 e5 2.e3 Nf6 3.d4 leads to a Budapest Gambit and 1.c4 e5 2.e3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.exd4 d5 leads to a Scandinavian Defence: Icelandic-Palme Gambit before transposing to a Mikenas-Carls English after 5.Nc3 and 1.c4 e5 2.e3 d5 3.d4 leads to an Albin Countergambit are both lines you should know for higher level play .

I tried the mikenas carls, Engine says to give up a pawn to force the black knight to g8.