OP had no problem with pointers prior to trying C++. I think there is a case to be made that C(++) makes pointers unnecessarily confusing and there is no real disconnect between understanding pointers in theory and in practice otherwise

And C++ makes everything extra confusing with the capability of operator overloading.

That has to be one of the worst features ever added to a language.

> I head massive problems with this pointer stuff

no, OP explicitly had problem after getting introduced to pointer concept