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A single picture might be worth a thousand words, but far more impressive is how strongly they can make us feel. There are some images out there that can unnerve you so much that you practically feel them through the screen… even though you might be thousands of miles away from what’s happening.

Bored Panda has compiled this list of images from all over the internet that are bound to make you feel uncomfortable. Scroll down for the best of the worst. But do keep in mind that this list is only for the bravest of Pandas—you may want to be careful if you’re extremely empathetic, sensitive (hi!), or don’t enjoy the company of bugs.

Bored Panda wanted to learn more about empathy, so we got in touch with social psychologist Alison Jane Martingano, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, and the host of the 'What Do You Mean?' blog on Psychology Today. She was kind enough to explain to us why it is that we feel other people's discomfort and pain when looking at photos and explained how empathy isn't just a reflex but can also be trained and cultivated, like a 'muscle.' You'll find our full interview with her below.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

My Girlfriend Got Nailed At Work

"Uncomfortable pic of a woman wearing a hard hat with a s***w as an earring."

chrystal-mighties Report

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    #2

    Just A Little Itch

    Man fishing shirtless in a boat, surrounded by mosquitoes, evokes a wildly uncomfortable moment.

    otomennn Report

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    #3

    My Broken Arm From When I Was 11 Years Old. I Didn't Even Cry

    A painfully uncomfortable image of an arm with an unusual bend, resting on a white pillow.

    non_bianary_Anthoney Report

    Final score:
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    #4

    My Teammate May Have Broken Her Finger At Volleyball Practice

    A woman sitting in a hospital room, looking uncomfortable and holding up her hand in an awkward position.

    sh_sh_shutyourmouth Report

    Final score:
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    #5

    Got A Splinter Under My Thumbnail

    Close-up of a thumb with chipped nail and small tattoo, depicting an uncomfortable image.

    Sv182 Report

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    #6

    My Cousin's Friend's Foot Got Impaled While Riding His Dirt Bike

    A stick pierces through a motocross boot inside an emergency vehicle, showcasing a painfully uncomfortable moment.

    reddit.com Report

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    #7

    I Have Become The Cat Toy

    Cat's paw pressing uncomfortably on a person's skin creating a small bulge.

    QuirkyWafer4 Report

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    #8

    I Really Should've Tied My Hair Together. Still Have Much Left, But Damn, That Hurted

    Hair tangled in a drill on grass, showing uncomfortable DIY mishap.

    Additional_Cat_594 Report

    Final score:
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    #9

    So This Is Definitely Not A Place Where I Was Trying To Put The Nail

    A painful needle stuck in a person's fingertip, creating discomfort.

    jack_shadow43 Report

    Final score:
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    #10

    I Had One Of Those Little Pieces Of Skin And Pulled It

    Close-up of a finger with a painful cut, an example of uncomfortable images online.

    Space_Cleaner Report

    Final score:
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    #11

    I Got A Sunburn, And My Skin Is Starting To Peel Off, So I Can Make A Little Pouch For Coins

    A coin taped uncomfortably to a leg with clear tape on a wooden floor background.

    Many_Wrap_6109 Report

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    #12

    Eyelid Somehow Got Stuck In The Zipper Of His Jacket

    Jacket zipper caught on eyelid, causing painfully uncomfortable situation.

    reddit.com Report

    Final score:
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    #13

    I Accidentally Ripped Out My Eyelashes An Hour Before My Wedding

    Eyelash curler with lashes caught, highlighting an uncomfortable experience.

    landofbizarre Report

    Final score:
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    #14

    I Got Out Of Bed Last Night And Didn't See This Charger That Had Fallen Off The Table. I Tried To Take A Step Back, When I Transferred My Weight And Heard A "Pop" Sound

    Hand holding foot with a USB charger awkwardly stuck to the sole, highlighting an uncomfortable moment.

    560guy Report

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    #15

    Here's A Photo Of My Hand Cramp

    Uncomfortably bent fingers creating an awkward, unnatural pose.

    Totally_Fubar_666 Report

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    #16

    I Stepped On A LEGO Block And Broke My Ankle

    X-ray showing a painfully uncomfortable broken leg bone with visible fracture and misalignment.

    bertbert1111 Report

    Final score:
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    #17

    Fell Asleep In The Bath. Finger Brains

    Close-up of a hand with wrinkled skin, appearing uncomfortable after being in water.

    neeto85 Report

    Final score:
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    #18

    Fluorescent Eyedrops Show The Scratches On My Partner's Cornea After A Factory Accident. So That's Why It Hurts

    Close-up of a person's eye glowing green under UV light, with purple-gloved hands creating an uncomfortable effect.

    ActiasLunacorn Report

    Final score:
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    #19

    This Chinese Guy With A Major Sunburn

    Two people peeling sunburnt skin off a man's back while he lies on a lounge chair, showing a painfully uncomfortable moment.

    ductions Report

    Final score:
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    #20

    What Could Go Wrong If I Take A Picture With This Gopher Snake I Found On The Road?

    A man in a camouflage shirt on the road, with a snake touching his nose, looking painfully uncomfortable.

    drewstrummer Report

    Final score:
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    #21

    I Was Working On Saturday Morning, And This Happened

    Man with an uncomfortable bug on his face inside a car.

    OkOutlandishness6550 Report

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    #22

    Getting Braids Done Too Tightly

    A person with dreadlocks adjusting glasses, revealing an uncomfortable hairline.

    KirstyNOTKristy Report

    Final score:
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    #23

    My Foot After Wearing A Wet Boot With A Hole In It For 10 Hours

    Wrinkled, uncomfortable-looking hand with pruned skin, held in another hand.

    itsalltucci Report

    Final score:
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    #24

    Huntsman Spider Biting Someone

    Large spider on a person's hand, creating an uncomfortable situation outdoors.

    Report

    Final score:
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    #25

    I Slammed My Finger In My Car Door, And Just As It Was About To Finish Healing, I Smashed It Again

    Close-up of a bruised thumbnail against grass and denim, showcasing a painfully uncomfortable injury.

    RewardInteresting521 Report

    Final score:
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    #26

    I Managed To Dislocate My Finger In 2 Directions At Once

    A hand with fingers awkwardly positioned on a wooden floor, creating an uncomfortable appearance.

    cadred48 Report

    Final score:
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    #27

    Here's Me With A Giant Spider Hanging From My Mouth. It Fell Out Of A Tree And Grabbed My Lip On The Way Down

    Person dangerously close to a large spider near their open mouth, highlighting an uncomfortable situation.

    Ichorice_Malign Report

    Final score:
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    #28

    Shot A Nail Through My Hand

    A hand with a small s***w piercing through the skin, illustrating a painfully uncomfortable moment.

    Truckeeseamus Report

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    #29

    Apparently I Turned On The Wrong Burner

    Close-up of a hand with peeling skin, creating an uncomfortable visual effect.

    Wizard_of_Claus Report

    Final score:
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    #30

    Eczema Seems To Be Infected Once Again, And I Need To Wait Until Monday To See A Doctor. It's As Painful As It Looks. Feels Like Ants Are Crawling Under My Skin

    Close-up of a painfully uncomfortable skin rash on an arm in a bathroom setting.

    homowithoutsapiens Report

    Final score:
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    #31

    I Saw My First Ever Mississippi Cactus. Flung Right Off Of My Bike Tire And Into My Leg

    Cyclist's leg painfully pierced by cactus, creating an uncomfortable situation while biking on a sunny day.

    billytooslow Report

    Final score:
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    #32

    My Cat Got Out, And I Tried To Bring Him Inside, But Instead I Stepped On A Nail. Fun Times

    Close-up of a foot with a pushpin in the heel, highlighting painfully uncomfortable scenarios.

    reddit.com Report

    Final score:
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    #33

    When Fishing Goes Wrong

    Hands holding large fishing hooks, illustrating painfully uncomfortable situations.

    potatoheads82 Report

    Final score:
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    #34

    Careful When Washing Up Piping Bags. Pain Ensued. I Felt Like A Fish On A Whole Load Of Barbs

    Finger trapped in a metal icing nozzle, illustrating an uncomfortable situation.

    scow1ey Report

    Final score:
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    #35

    I Walked Through A Fly Strip This Morning. I've Spent An Hour Shampooing Glue And Fly Guts Out Of My Hair

    A strand of hair painfully entangled with a wooden stick in a kitchen setting.

    queendank Report

    Final score:
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    #36

    A Different Kind Of Sticky Fingers

    Fingers covered in tiny insects, creating an uncomfortable scene at an outdoor table setting.

    hughwouldnotbelieve Report

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    #37

    I Decided To Take Off My Shoes And Let The Mosquitos Eat Me Alive For Twenty Minutes Or So. Once Back In My Truck, I Scratched My Feet For Three Hours Straight

    Bare feet covered in mosquitoes in a grassy field, creating an uncomfortable scene.

    Joel Sartore Report

    Final score:
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    #38

    Sacrificed His Hand To Test An Ultrasound Mosquito Repeller

    Uncomfortable image of an arm with insect bites holding a smartphone in a glass enclosure.

    Biogents AG Report

    Final score:
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    #39

    After A Day Of Work, I Sat Down And Noticed A Piece Of Wire Stuck Half An Inch In My Leg

    Close-up of a leg with a painfully uncomfortable ingrown hair emerging from a small inflamed bump.

    Tantonev Report

    Final score:
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    #40

    The Best Way To Get An Eye Patch Is To Trust Your Big Brother Enough To Play This Game

    A long rubber band stretched in a school hallway, creating an uncomfortable scene.

    realjknoxville Report

    Final score:
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    #41

    A Picture From 3 Years Ago. My Shoe Got Punctured By A Spile From A Bush And Hit My Foot. The Pain Was Dear God

    A small nail inside a green shoe, creating an uncomfortable scenario.

    Cat_The_E Report

    Final score:
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    #42

    This Is What Real Pain Means

    Uncomfortable pic of long hair stuck in a bus pole on public transport.

    crazy_kutas Report

    Final score:
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    #43

    Trying To Catch A Cactus From Falling Over With 2 Hands. Other Hand Has Several Needles Buried In The Skin I Can't Get Out

    Hand with painful tiny splinters causing discomfort.

    S1lentA0 Report

    Final score:
    -1point
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    #44

    I Was Hired To Do Maternity Photoshoot With A Four-Pound Swarm Of Bees, Numbering About 20,000, Covering My Clients Belly, With Some On Her Arms, Neck And Face

    Woman wearing a dress covered in bees, posing in a grassy field, depicting uncomfortable moments.

    Kendrah Damis Photography Report

    Final score:
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    #45

    Today, I Pulled My Own Tooth Out With These Dollar Store Pliers

    Multitool pliers next to an extracted tooth, showcasing an uncomfortable situation.

    Sirnando138 Report

    Final score:
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    #46

    I Accidentally Dropped A Fork And Stepped On It

    A fork pressed against a foot, creating an uncomfortable sensation.

    WilhelminaWestwood Report

    Final score:
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    #47

    Summer Has Come Again This Year

    Person with cicada shells covering their hair, showcasing an uncomfortable look.

    shoko55mmts Report

    Final score:
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    #48

    Want To Stop And Take A Shot? Or Put Together A Bouquet? Then Feed A Bunch Of Mosquitoes. This Was Awful

    A woman outdoors with mosquitoes on her face and body, depicting an uncomfortable situation in a field of flowers.

    anastasiagav Report

    Final score:
    -1point
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