In a state of illness, all people behave differently. Some are secretive, trying not to burden others with their problems, while others, on the contrary, go into all the details and share all their worries about their health. In this article I would like to consider a situation when a person may “benefit” from his illness. The ability to “benefit” from an illness can be formed both as a result of a long course of a serious illness, and can be a feature of the human psyche, when any physical ailment is used to achieve personal goals. In one person such a feature will be clearly expressed, and close relatives who come into contact with him every day will understand at what moments the patient manipulates them, deriving “benefit” from his condition. For another, the manipulation may be very subtle and unobvious. But in most cases, a person somehow learns to “benefit” from a physical illness. There are jokes about husbands who, having seen a temperature of about 37 on the thermometer, go to bed with a tragic look and almost write a will. A common cold can be an excellent reason for a person to surround himself with the attention and care that is lacking in everyday life. Or just relax and temporarily relieve yourself of the burden of responsibility - not going to school, skipping an exam, skipping work. Often the disease manifests itself precisely at a time when a person needs to strain in order to complete some task, prepare for a presentation, hold an important meeting, or report to his superiors about the work done. Probably, most of those reading the article already recognized themselves at this moment - who among us did not get sick on the eve of exams? On a more global level, an illness that manifests itself as a serious physical ailment can become a very convenient tool for a person to influence others and relieve oneself of responsibility for own life. You can conveniently hide behind an illness so as not to live fully, not to work on yourself, not to improve your physical condition, financial situation, relationships, not to develop, not to learn new things. If life is ensured at the expense of others, if there is someone to take care of finances, cook, buy medicine, why leave this comfortable niche? My friend’s father, a huge man, a former military man, at the age of 50 refused to work under the pretext that he had diabetes mellitus (not insulin dependent) and sat on the neck of his children and wife. At the same time, he does not care at all about his lifestyle, drinks alcohol, does not follow a diet, and does not follow doctors’ recommendations. And he keeps the whole family in fear, “if things don’t go my way, you will kill me.” A very convenient tool for manipulation, how can you refuse it? Many people who hide live from the position of a victim, blaming fate and others for what happened to them, and not wanting to make the effort to take control of their lives and try to change something. The disease progresses differently for all people. Some people pull themselves together, take medications, play sports, find doctors and methods to maintain their health, and follow a regimen. Someone complains that there are no medicines, there is no money for them either, and clings to their limited capabilities. One recovers, the other worsens his condition. After all, the condition is so beneficial that no cure is sought, doctors do not work well, the person again and again does everything to never get out of this condition. Losing the colors of life and all the opportunities to live as interestingly, comfortably, and fully as possible. Why does one dance without legs and become an example for others, while the other without legs dies? If illness is just a reason to get some sleep, allow yourself this and start listening to yourself in time, illness signals that you have exceeded the capabilities of your body and it needs rest . If a disease threatens life or its full living, urgently look for why this condition is desirable for you, what “benefits” it brings, how it helps and how you can achieve these benefits for others