Watch some Lunatic mode replays. It'll be an eye-opening experience. ...No, I didn't say that just for the pun, that's an honest advice. They'll give you the idea how much leeway you actually have in the games. Then try Lunatic mode yourself. Yes, you'll fail. Don't try to win, just do some crazy stunts. But odds are things will feel much easier when you go back to whatever mode you're playing normally.
Also, since the issue seems to be psychological, you need to realize that failing is okay in this genre. Losing a life is okay. Losing a continue is okay. Losing a run is okay. These are the games which you need to play many times and gradually get better over a long time. One failure isn't the end. A dozen failures isn't the end. You just need one success, and it'll come when it comes. You need to enjoy the process, not the result.