Bryan Bowers, the only living member of the Autoharp Hall of Fame, and a true Master of the instrument, uses an autoharp strap, readily available ot Elderly instruments and other places, to take the pressure off of the arm and back, etc. and in general make it easier to play, though he would never give up holding it, he likes the sound next to his heart. One just gets used to the position of the chord bars played with the left hand and gets used to strumming with the right. He has a great teaching video, worth having if you are serious about it. Or just keep trying as long as you are having fun, though I've found the less the difficulties adjusting to a method, the more fun one can have using it.