I don't necessarily agree that people don't discuss their physical illnesses very much in casual settings. That may be partially an age thing, as you get older, you are more likely to have problems, and people do find comfort in just venting it or in "misery loves company". Even with senior citizens, it does become a pissing contest over who has more things wrong with them at times, and they seem almost to take pride at times in that.

But I noticed the same thing among people in the day hospital program and support groups who "bought into it" - like a prideful thing to be on X number of different drugs with X number of diagnoses, all so they can seem "compliant" to doctors and brag to other patients. At least that was my take on it.

Yes, I do think the people who "buy into it" often use it as an excuse to avoid responsibility. Easier to say "my bad, but not my fault because I have X" than to say "I f***** up."