The ‘Hard To Swallow Pill’ Meme Has People Sharing Difficult Truths, And Here Are 30 Of The Most Popular Ones
The template of the meme consists of two WikiHow stock images: one with someone looking at a bottle of pills with a label that says "Hard to Swallow Pills" and another with the pills already in the person's hand, ready to be ingested.
People download it, slap a text of what they think is a universal truth on the second picture, and upload it back on the Internet, waiting for upvotes. And we often have to give it to them. Quite a few of these memes capture some universal law, most of which we know but don't want to accept. Like, "some of your problems are your own fault, and won't get better until you actively do something about it" or "you can't make someone love you."
Bored Panda has compiled some of the most popular Hard to Swallow Pills, so continue scrolling, check out the memes, and upvote your favorites.
This post may include affiliate links.
Clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst Mary Lamia, Ph.D., thinks that the notion that one is “in denial” seems to have taken on a life of its own as an agent of many ills and as a catchphrase for people who dismiss the implications of their behavior.
"Although denial is considered to be a defense often used by people with addictive tendencies, its attributions reach beyond those struggling with substances," Lamia pointed out. "Denial is also attributed to people who do not want to acknowledge that bad stuff is occurring in their lives, such as those who are attempting to cope with a tumultuous relationship, a life-threatening illness, obesity, a loss, or anything else that one may attempt to disavow."
Sure, we can deny a fact, deny responsibility, deny the impact of our actions, or even deny what is really going on by hiding from our feelings. But according to Lamia, when we use denial to defend ourselves or cope with what we feel, we contradict the reality of a situation or attempt to adjust to a circumstance by neglecting its impact. However, the extent of someone’s denial may not really be the issue at hand.
"What’s important is not that people recognize their denial, but that they are able to accept what they are feeling that leads to the denial in the first place," Lamia explained. "If someone excessively and habitually uses alcohol to medicate their anxiety, for example, we might emphasize their attempts to dismiss the harm that their use of alcohol will cause, rather than focus on the emotions they feel that motivate their denial. If that person stops drinking, one would hope the emotions that were formerly hidden by denial, which often have to do with shame, would be exposed and accepted by the individual."
Poor people have to work even harder than others, just to get a daily meal and shelter
We not only use denial to hide from any negative emotion, including shame, fear, guilt, or distress but to mute positive emotions as well. "Sometimes feeling positively may be just as threatening as negative feelings. We may want to deny the reality of our emotions, because accepting a reality that is uncomfortable, painful, or incongruous to what we expect means we must also alter our perception of ourselves. Thus, if you are in denial, perhaps you are simply trying to ignore the truth about what you actually feel, rather than about what you are doing or thinking."
But if you want to move forward, you have to swallow the truth.
This applies to both guys and gals. Nobody is as kind as they think themselves are.
I like this one. Re-evaluate your worldview every so often, visit other places, talk to people from other communities, read books, and so on. It's character building too.
This one should not even have to be a thing, but sadly it is.
This is the one thing every teenager (including me) has to understand. Not everyone has to like you, nor do they have to hate you. We just gotta let it be.
Possibly so, but believing that the Earth is flat, or that vaccinations don't work does make you stupid and deserving of ridicule.
The three big things needed in a relationship are trust, compromise and respect. Of course there are more like having each others back, liking the other person etc. Relationships are hard work, you need to make the effort to help it grow.
Definitely, but compromise is a tricky one. Compromise on where to go on holiday or whose turn it is to do what, but don't compromise on the big things like having/not having kids. That'll just breed contempt in the long run.
Load More Replies...
I read years ago that in a town sized area there’s likely 30 ‘perfect matches’ living there for you could settle down with. Of course growing up similar helps shape them into someone you could make a relationship work & plus likely to come across
No, you can't "make them the one and only on your own." Either accept them as they are, or leave them alone. Attempting to change them only annoys them.
I don't think they mean change the person, I think they mean put in the effort to make the relationship work.
Load More Replies...
No, not at all. Don't "settle"! Hang in there until you find the right person, not just "a" person. Don't lower your standards at all!
Honestly, it depends on your standards. If your standards are "I'm looking for a long-term partner that shares my sense of humour", then hold on to that, because anything less will make you unhappy. But if your standards are "I'm looking for a long-term partner that shares my sense of humour, loves museums, enjoys horror movies, swims, plays board games, and is less than 5'8" then you're making *yourself* unhappy in every relationship you're in. I think the hardest part of dating is probably figuring out what's important to you and what isn't, and letting the little things go while not compromising on the big things. Compromising too much or too little will both cause you grief.
Load More Replies...
my Jack Russell was perfect....until cancer took her. I'd rather have a pet than a person I don't fit with.
I've always thought of "the one" as the person you'll choose to stay with for life, in my case, marry. I knew they were out there somewhere so technically they were my "the one". But I don't have this idea that there's only one truly compatible person out there for you, that's just silly and actually super stressful. My father-in-law said it doesn't matter if they're "the one" because once you say "I do" your spouse becomes "the one".
My husband and I don't believe in soul mates we believe we are lucky enough to choose and be together
The only way to not get divorced is to stay married. Abuse is a definite deal breaker, whether it's physical, emotional, sexual, or financial. Substance abuse should also get a long hard look.
Well spoken! The most important things of all.
Load More Replies...
I like to believe that everyone that you know is a potential soul mate, it's just a matter of love.
Mama said "Relationships should be 50/50, but that usually feels like 60/40. If it feels like 90/10, though, you should get out."
Be with the person who inspires you to be the kind of person he/she/they brag about.
If you have honesty trust respect and acknowledgment what more does it take?
The perfect match for you is someone whose faults and habits don't drive you crazy.
That sounds like settling to me. So in other words, you'll do and I'll try to transform you into something you are never gonna be.
No but you can tie them up in your basement til stockholm syndrome kicks in.
Note: this post originally had 65 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
One I would add is: choosing to have a baby won't necessarily magically change your life for the better or take away your depression. And even if you do everything right, your child could suck.
Children are not fashion accessories, life accoutrements, or there to fulfill some life's mission. They are children. They are to be loved, taught, protected and guided. They are not there to fulfill your "lost opportunities."
Load More Replies...
Hard Pill to Swallow: 95% of diets fail, and yo-yo dieting is actually worse for your health than being overweight.
That's because 'dieting' is the wrong way to lose weight. Sustained, healthy lifestyle change is the only way to do it. You can never 'diet' then stop and hope for lasting results, it's something that you change forever.
Load More Replies...
Here's one: For some people, even negative attention is still attention.
Which it why it was such a great decision by the P.M. and the media in New Zeland not to use his name. "New Zealand media put Christchurch gunman in his place with focus on victims" And "after the gunman was sentenced to an unprecedented life in jail without parole, Ardern reiterated her commitment to never speak the terrorist’s name, saying he deserved “a lifetime of complete and utter silence”.". https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/27/new-zealand-media-put-christchurch-gunman-in-his-place-with-focus-on-victims
Load More Replies...
SOOOOO many contradictions. Half of these are "you are a victim" and the other half are "suck it up, only you are accountable for you"
Also: 'Your inability to grasp Black Lives Matter is entirely your fault. Everyine has been informed what it means, at this point you're just racist'
Not all of these are true, by any means. I suspect a lot of smartass teens who think they know everything just following a meme format. Don't sweat it.
Load More Replies...
some of those are false yet looking smart. And the real "smart" ones doesn't help either. Life is not easy, you know. (real "smart" because it's very smart but rather openminded)
you do not have to trying to prove somehing you do is right, just beacause you do it
How about "Just because you decided to become a teacher or a nurse, you aren't any more special than the next person." Please stop patting yourselves on the back.
Statistically speaking, if you really did tell the truth all the time, occasionally you would have something good to say. Being consistantly negative and insulting the people around you, doesn't mean you're telling the truth. You actually are just being an a*****e.
I've got some too ! 1) Men should receive compliments just as much as women, everyone's pretty 2) (for you pro-gender-role people) "Pretty" can be used to describe everyone and everything, not just women and flowers and sunsets and seas. Men can be pretty too. 3) ALL SEXUALITIES ARE VALID. You don't choose what your favorite color is, or what goes on in your body and brain. You can't choose or control who you love. 4) ABORTION SHOULD BE LEGAL AND AVAILABLE TO EVERY WOMAN. Rape-babies AREN'T THE WOMAN'S FAULT. Stop making it seem that way. Old white men shouldn't care what a woman does with an accidental clump of cells. 5) Women don't dress for men, and men don't dress for women. Some might, but they shouldn't have to if they don't want to. 6) Cancel Culture is immature. Period. Y'all really be ruining someone's life and shooting them into a life of poverty because they couldn't go to college, just because they posted a pic with a Trump flag.
7) Just because someone has different views as you does not automatically mean they are stupid and have a low IQ. Some of the most influential, intelligent people in the US are Trump supporters. This does not mean that they are correct in their decision, obviously. Trump is smart on certain subjects, like business. Not windmills, though, he could use some work with windmills. He DOES know a lot about raping little girls and boys, though, because he has experience in that field.
Load More Replies...
Eating less and exercising more is the only certain way to lose weight and keep it off. You don't need a 300 page book or a series of videos, you need a post-it note.
I'm an 'older' lady and some of these just smacked of truth for me! Like, DOH!
This one always starts a hate war: truth is in the eye of the beholder
One I would add is: choosing to have a baby won't necessarily magically change your life for the better or take away your depression. And even if you do everything right, your child could suck.
Children are not fashion accessories, life accoutrements, or there to fulfill some life's mission. They are children. They are to be loved, taught, protected and guided. They are not there to fulfill your "lost opportunities."
Load More Replies... Hard Pill to Swallow: 95% of diets fail, and yo-yo dieting is actually worse for your health than being overweight.
That's because 'dieting' is the wrong way to lose weight. Sustained, healthy lifestyle change is the only way to do it. You can never 'diet' then stop and hope for lasting results, it's something that you change forever.
Load More Replies... Here's one: For some people, even negative attention is still attention.
Which it why it was such a great decision by the P.M. and the media in New Zeland not to use his name. "New Zealand media put Christchurch gunman in his place with focus on victims" And "after the gunman was sentenced to an unprecedented life in jail without parole, Ardern reiterated her commitment to never speak the terrorist’s name, saying he deserved “a lifetime of complete and utter silence”.". https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/27/new-zealand-media-put-christchurch-gunman-in-his-place-with-focus-on-victims
Load More Replies... SOOOOO many contradictions. Half of these are "you are a victim" and the other half are "suck it up, only you are accountable for you"
Also: 'Your inability to grasp Black Lives Matter is entirely your fault. Everyine has been informed what it means, at this point you're just racist'
Not all of these are true, by any means. I suspect a lot of smartass teens who think they know everything just following a meme format. Don't sweat it.
Load More Replies... some of those are false yet looking smart. And the real "smart" ones doesn't help either. Life is not easy, you know. (real "smart" because it's very smart but rather openminded)
you do not have to trying to prove somehing you do is right, just beacause you do it
How about "Just because you decided to become a teacher or a nurse, you aren't any more special than the next person." Please stop patting yourselves on the back.
Statistically speaking, if you really did tell the truth all the time, occasionally you would have something good to say. Being consistantly negative and insulting the people around you, doesn't mean you're telling the truth. You actually are just being an a*****e.
I've got some too ! 1) Men should receive compliments just as much as women, everyone's pretty 2) (for you pro-gender-role people) "Pretty" can be used to describe everyone and everything, not just women and flowers and sunsets and seas. Men can be pretty too. 3) ALL SEXUALITIES ARE VALID. You don't choose what your favorite color is, or what goes on in your body and brain. You can't choose or control who you love. 4) ABORTION SHOULD BE LEGAL AND AVAILABLE TO EVERY WOMAN. Rape-babies AREN'T THE WOMAN'S FAULT. Stop making it seem that way. Old white men shouldn't care what a woman does with an accidental clump of cells. 5) Women don't dress for men, and men don't dress for women. Some might, but they shouldn't have to if they don't want to. 6) Cancel Culture is immature. Period. Y'all really be ruining someone's life and shooting them into a life of poverty because they couldn't go to college, just because they posted a pic with a Trump flag.
7) Just because someone has different views as you does not automatically mean they are stupid and have a low IQ. Some of the most influential, intelligent people in the US are Trump supporters. This does not mean that they are correct in their decision, obviously. Trump is smart on certain subjects, like business. Not windmills, though, he could use some work with windmills. He DOES know a lot about raping little girls and boys, though, because he has experience in that field.
Load More Replies... Eating less and exercising more is the only certain way to lose weight and keep it off. You don't need a 300 page book or a series of videos, you need a post-it note.
I'm an 'older' lady and some of these just smacked of truth for me! Like, DOH!
This one always starts a hate war: truth is in the eye of the beholder
