People who always respond with "fine" when asked how they are aren't lying - they learned, at some specific point in their life, that the true answer produced outcomes that were worse than the silence, and fine has been the silence ever since - Silicon Canals

"When someone consistently answers 'fine' regardless of what's actually happening in their life, they're not being dishonest or superficial. They've learned, through experience, that the truth creates more problems than it solves."

"The day 'fine' became my shield, I was twenty-three, sitting in a coffee shop with the aftermath of my parents' divorce still echoing in my mind."

The article reflects on the common response of saying 'fine' when asked about one's well-being, highlighting how this response often masks true feelings. It discusses the author's personal journey with anxiety, beginning in her early twenties, and the impact of her parents' divorce at twelve. The narrative includes experiences of panic attacks and the analytical nature of her relationships, emphasizing the struggle for genuine connection amidst emotional turmoil. The author illustrates how learned responses can serve as protective shields against vulnerability.

Read at Silicon Canals