Hi Kyle! I recommend checking my thread where I learnt how to bend Bending - I can do it but
But reading your post, first can you verify it’s actual bending through Luke’s award-winning Bend It Better™ webapp? Bend It Better™ – The Tool That Helps You Bend Harmonica in Tune! ? Assuming you can, here’s the “missing piece”
it’s not the force. you don’t need to tense every muscle in your face so it feels numb after- it may “feel that way” and initially it’s something you’ll do though
—————–> Speed. I found that depending on the hole, how “abruptly” you try to do the bend it will work for different holes. try doing it way quicker instead of “easing into it” like most youtube videos usually show