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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.

#1

Hard-To-Swallow-Pills

backwards_savage_ Report

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Jo Cooper
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my favourite quotes; going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to the garage makes you a car.

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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."

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#3

Hard-To-Swallow-Pills

theschoolofsocialvalue Report

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postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor people have to work even harder than others, just to get a daily meal and shelter

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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.

#5

Hard-To-Swallow-Pills

awkwardpotatoo Report

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flawziedh-123 avatar
postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This applies to both guys and gals. Nobody is as kind as they think themselves are.

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#7

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rexxar-tc Report

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Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's even harder to swallow the problems that are NOT your own fault, but it's UP TO YOU to clean someone else's poop to save your a*s.

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#8

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xrancorx Report

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ChimeraBubbles
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

nataliamorgadonardi avatar
NMN
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Learn other languages and read about other places through different views

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Kate Yeti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I grew up loving history, even though I acknowledged that what we were taught was a little whitewashed. Now, I realise it was downright racist, censored, and in some cases, straight up lies. I feel betrayed by the system and by myself, knowing that I went along with it for so long.

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Only one who has fallen in love with a different culture can begin to see the fetters of his own"

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Matthew Daniel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Get a passport and travel. Look at differing news outlets. Don't get your news or world view from social media or forums.

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Aileen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of so much media out there that claims to be unbiased but is, in fact, very biased.

notyouagain1986 avatar
Wouldn't You Like to Know
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, that's what the public school taught is...I've since learned to think for myself.

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John-Paul Bitler
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so true, especially for American Political Parties, more so for Mainstream Media

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JD Lee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For anyone who has ever bashed an entire country based on what their media shows them, this is for you. People, regardless of race, nationality, gender, etc. are generally good and decent, & chances are the extremists the news show for ratings DO NOT represent the majority. Do your homework & think for yourselves.

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Carole Reid
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A little bit of travel makes this perfectly clear if you're paying attention.

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Gabriela Raczyńska
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Americans in particular. I've never seen a group of invidivuals more obsessed with their country. They are insanely brainwashed with the idea that nobody is better than them, while the reality is that they are a rich third-world country filled with arrogant, ignorant people.

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Laura Stenger
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Learned some Pakistani this am. Watched several conversations on this thing.

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Shinomi Chan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yeah! There were A LOT of stereotypes all around you... Tv/movies/games/comics etc. All showed (sometimes very racists) descriptions of all sorts of people. Nowadays.. That would not fly.

lisachambers2018 avatar
Lisa Chambers
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After being locked down for that long, you dont think we have had a chance to look deeply into that? They should have never pushed that lock down.

elizabeth_gardner925 avatar
Elizabeth Gardner
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The answer to that is to read read read. When something raises its head and you are unsure read all you can about it You cannot believe everything that is said and written but you can find out the truth if you check it out.

vandeverlloydw avatar
Lloyd Vandever
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So very true. The country I'm from was founded upon murder, rape, and pillaging with some genocide to boot. Bet you'll never guess which country.

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Andy Johnson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THAT IS WHY PEOPLE TEAR DOWN STATUES.. EVERYONE IS IGNORANT. BUT TO CONTINUE, BEING UNINFORMED... THAT IS STUPID/DUMB

r_bekirova avatar
Ruma Walker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh how I wish Trump supporters would have the 2 brain cells required to understand this...

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Tres D
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is sooooo true! I was a life long Democrat because my parents were until I realized that not one thing liberals believe in has never worked. EVER!

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danielw
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

don't get me wrong. I'm an avowed independent who things anybody associated with either the republicans or democrats are a******s that have ruined our country. It's the only thing they've ever done in concert with one another. but the Democrats have done a fair amount of good. (and so has the republican party, back in the day. there is some justification for wanting a minimal government. what 'minimal' means is open for debate, and it's not as small as say libertarians imagine it to be, but details.)

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Mauro Murgia
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's why you spend your life with a lot of this s**t buried in your braon, ready to came out at the worst possible moment

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Russian Otaku
Community Member
3 years ago

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Unless your brain is wired better and all such things fail due to the OCD of having to question every little thing everything

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DC
Community Member
3 years ago

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Uh ... do children have an opinion on COUNTRIES? I mean ... isn't that a bit political for them to even bother...?

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NMN
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, they do. Might not be related to their current politics or economics. But they have opinions. Might be by thinking how cool they are because of a cartoon or things they like/dislike about the culture or what their parents try to push into their heads

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#10

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reddit.com Report

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Monday
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm all for praying for those in need if that's what you believe in, but send a donation with that prayer.

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#12

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petey_public Report

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Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True. And the nearer the end, the more I think of it. Viruses don't plan according to human made calendars. This could go on and on. And even after it's gone, the damage repair will still take a while.

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#15

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dairyfreediva Report

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postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#17

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supportivefathers Report

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H Edwards
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Smoking is a good example. Children of smokers are much more likely to take it up themselves.

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#19

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istherenofuckingusernameleft Report

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Ray Martin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Possibly so, but believing that the Earth is flat, or that vaccinations don't work does make you stupid and deserving of ridicule.

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#21

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TheLloydGross Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#30

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digitaldegenarate Report

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Daria Z
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A hospital in my city has recently received a complaint from the family of a man saved from covid complications. Apparently, they didn't like that the doctor who saved him had tattoos and a nose ring. Isn't it bizarre?

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Note: this post originally had 65 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.