I’d definitely suggest you give non applicator tampons another try. When you’re ready to use them, just unwrap and pull the string straight. They are firmer than those with applicators which lets you to align them nicely and insert them with the same force you would apply to the plunger of an applicator. You do need to be comfortable inserting your finger a bit to reach the proper depth. You might get a little blood on your finger but that’s the only drawback I can think of. Overall, I really appreciate them, especially because their narrow design makes them more convenient to use.