I'm sure you know someone, maybe yourself, who has a hard time swallowing pills. Swallowing a pill seems like an easy task, after all, we swallow food over a hundred times a day. It is second nature to us and you don't have to think about it. Why, then, is swallowing pills so difficult? Well, pills are not food. With pills, you do not chew first and are not familiar with the taste. But, we trust foods more since we are used to eating foods everyday, pills just seem more risky. I understand because I was in the same place too. But, try not to think like that, instead think of how your body would not be able to manage without this pill, how this will save your life (be over-dramatic if you have to get yourself to do it).
One of the most important things to remember is that it is a mental issue, not a physical one (if it is a physical issue, see your doctor). You need to put yourself into the right mind set, then, just like everything else you need to practice, practice, and practice some more.
1. The Mind Set
You need to convince your body and mind that ingesting this pill will only help your body, not make it worse. Remind yourself, how important it is to take the pill and why you are taking it. But, don't stress yourself out too much. When I was young my family always put pressure on me and teased me because I could not swallow pills. What they did not understand was that it was not my choice, I could not control my inability to swallow pills. Once they finally let it go, I learned how to swallow pills without stressing or scaring myself.
2. Practice and Try Different Methods
Remember while you are trying these different methods, use whatever makes you the most comfortable. Give yourself positive reinforcement. Don't try to master the technique of swallowing pills in one day!
3. Time
If you tried these methods and it is still not working, don't force it. Keep trying, but don't over work yourself or think there is something wrong with you. Everyone gets it at different times, and one day it will click. Until then, when it comes to medicine try to get the liquid, melt-away (eww!), gummy, or any other form of the medicine. If another form is not available, you can crush the pill into a soft food, like mushed banana, pudding, or applesauce.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and it helps you learn to swallow pills with ease! Feel free to comment if you have any questions or to share your advice on other ways you learned to swallow pills!
For more on swallowing pills check out these informational pieces:
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/two-tricks-make-easier-swallow-pills-201411137515
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303759604579093324152415870
One of the most important things to remember is that it is a mental issue, not a physical one (if it is a physical issue, see your doctor). You need to put yourself into the right mind set, then, just like everything else you need to practice, practice, and practice some more.
1. The Mind Set
You need to convince your body and mind that ingesting this pill will only help your body, not make it worse. Remind yourself, how important it is to take the pill and why you are taking it. But, don't stress yourself out too much. When I was young my family always put pressure on me and teased me because I could not swallow pills. What they did not understand was that it was not my choice, I could not control my inability to swallow pills. Once they finally let it go, I learned how to swallow pills without stressing or scaring myself.
2. Practice and Try Different Methods
- Obviously, you should not practice taking pills on real pills, because then you would be overdosing on medicine, and that is not safe. Instead practice swallowing tic tacs, they have a similar shape, size, and texture as a common pill. You might want to start off with cutting them in half. And, once you are comfortable at swallowing half tic tacs, try swallowing them whole.
- One method to swallow a pill, is to put it in a mushy food (like applesauce) and then swallow it all together. The texture of the food will help the pill flow down into your body.
- You might also want to try using a water bottle. Place the pill on your tongue. Then, securely close your lips around the water bottle, tilt your head back just as if you were drinking from the water bottle, but suck as you drink the water.
- Another method is to put the pill on your tongue. Take a sip of water, but don't swallow. Then, tilt your chin toward your neck, close to touching your chest, and then swallow the water and pill together. Although this method did not work for me, it is supposed to be very effective.
- You may find it helpful to take a sip of water first, then put the pill in your mouth and swallow with another sip of water. This reinforces to your mind and body how you usually drink water without trying to hold back the pill with your tongue/mouth.
Remember while you are trying these different methods, use whatever makes you the most comfortable. Give yourself positive reinforcement. Don't try to master the technique of swallowing pills in one day!
3. Time
If you tried these methods and it is still not working, don't force it. Keep trying, but don't over work yourself or think there is something wrong with you. Everyone gets it at different times, and one day it will click. Until then, when it comes to medicine try to get the liquid, melt-away (eww!), gummy, or any other form of the medicine. If another form is not available, you can crush the pill into a soft food, like mushed banana, pudding, or applesauce.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and it helps you learn to swallow pills with ease! Feel free to comment if you have any questions or to share your advice on other ways you learned to swallow pills!
For more on swallowing pills check out these informational pieces:
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/two-tricks-make-easier-swallow-pills-201411137515
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303759604579093324152415870
"25 pairs of muscles in the mouth and throat help prepare your food for swallowing. When you swallow, your airway closes and you stop breathing for a moment"- Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter