Anyone else here been looking for steady work but are plagued by past inadequacies?

I have a less than stellar list of work references that is not very solid. It keeps coming up as an issue in several job interviews and background checks. I remember years ago I used to get hired quickly and not much fuss.. so why now all this nit-picking? It's causing me to be passed up for good jobs to those who played the corporate game steadily and have no holes in their history

Based on my other posts in this forum regarding relationships... do to feelings of winter depression triggered by extreme loneliness and feelings of emptiness for not having a serious girlfriend, I encountered focusing problems at most all of my jobs and quit them after a few months or a year.

It is very distracting to try to do your job when you have to think about coming home to an empty house, waking up to an empty bed, and not having anyone to share dinner with every day It affects your ability to be a team-player. Coincidentally, as a shy kid growing up that also affected my ability to be a team-player in the workplace.

ANY ADVICE???