Getting Started Without Freaking Out?

Sounding is one of those kinks that looks intimidating as hell at first, but once you get past the mental block, it’s honestly insane how good it feels. I realized that starting with a smaller, smooth metal sound and using a ton of sterile lube makes the first time way easier, since forcing anything too big or dry is a fast way to ruin the experience. The slow slide-in sensation is something else. If you’ve tried it, what was your first time like, and how did you get comfortable with it?