Considering that I've spent most of my life hiding my issues, no, I don't use it as a benefit or an excuse. One of my issues is anxiety, and if I let myself hide behind that, I'd never do anything. I'm constantly pushing myself to move past my issues and function in spite of them. The last thing I want is to use it as an excuse or benefit. Besides, I've found that I'm so good at hiding it that most people don't really understand the extent to which I struggle on a daily basis.

With people that I'm very close to, I will explain or ask for help if I'm struggling. For example, I might tell a friend that I need to cut short an outing because I'm feeling extremely anxious, or I might ask a friend to accompany me to something as support. I try to never exploit it, though.