Is there any easier way to take contacts out?

I went to the optometrist today and I couldnt take them out of my eyes! its so annoying cause I really want contacts but how do you take them out? The optometrist told me to drag it down my eye and then just take it out but it hurts! and it took me about 45 minuts to put them in cause I kept blinking.Is this normal and is there any easy way to do it? I have to go back to the optometrist in a couple of days to try again.