Not sure how it's different for "Cartographers" to be honest. It seems a "Cartographer" is just an artist who makes maps. True, you can go more scientific and all that but at the end of the day it's about creating a visual representation. Some folks use functions and stuff to create most of their maps but there are many who just paint it same way they would paint a portrait. What you need is to become comfortable with using it so you feel about the same as you do when using a pencil and paper.

Personally, I just used it as a mouse for a couple days and that go me over the initial oddness. After that I started a project using it and that was that.

You will be surprised how quickly you adapt to it.

The software you use may be another matter. I had to go quite a few rounds with Photoshop before I finally felt like I could come close to the same thing I would get from traditional methods.

Just don't give up and you WILL do it.