The only real difference I've observed is that people with physical illnesses tend to be more determined to get better and prove to everyone that they can live a normal or near normal life, whereas people with mental illnesses (remember this is just in my experience) tend to try and convince everyone how ill they are first. In quite a few cases, although by no means all, mental health patients I have known have been going into shopping centres every day and going to pubs every night and making cross-country journeys by planes, trains and buses to see internet friends, but as soon as someone suggests they try getting a part-time job, or leaning less on the NHS resources like counsellors and so on, they start shouting about how ill they are compared to everyone else in the whole world ever. (I particularly remember the woman who said "you get Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance? God, you're so lucky!" Yeah, I feel lucky to be basically housebound or only able to go out for short times if I have available a carer who is physically strong enough to help me out if I get in trouble...) My point is that the patients have very different approaches, so it's only to be expected that everyone else will. I'm rambling. Sorry. It's half past five am, the baby in the next flat is ill and screaming, I'm not entirely awake.