Physical Pain vs. Mental Anguish

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Do other aspies have trouble telling the difference? Sometimes I think that I'm depressed when I'm actually in the early stages of an illness, or I think that I'm sick when I'm really just depressed (fatigue is a sign of both - that's what throws me every time).

Yes, they can feel the same. I had low grade depression my whole life with periodic dips into major depression. I do well on meds but sometimes things feel like they're slipping and I'm relieved when I discover I'm just coming down with a virus of some kind.

Mrm, I have the same problem, it feels like I'm in pain but I know it's just the anxiety etc.

-.-

I just jabbed myself with a pencil. I think I can tell the difference between mental anguish and physical pain. Ouch it stings.

Well, sometimes physical pain makes you feel better, if it distracts you from mental anguish.

I have the same problem.

Sometimes, when I'm starting to come down with an illness of some kind, I'll be really sad and/or irritable. One particular example of this was the time I thought I was going to lose my mind, only to discover that I had a bladder infection.

I think there's a whole continuum feelings that exist somewhere between physical sensations and pure mental states. I also think it's a false belief that mental and physical processes are separate. Severe anxiety can cause physical illness and prolonged physical illness often causes depression. There's no absolute dividing line between physical and mental.

Yeah, I can never tell what the fatigue and pain are from. In addition, I can make myself physically sick if I get stressed enough. I try really hard not to do that anymore.