“I’m not sure”

It’s rarely all bad. Then that would be simply the answer. The problem is that it’s often complicated (not the emotional capacity of a teaspoon, for those who get that reference) and idk how to summarise that into a single feeling so I literally don’t know what the answer is and so that’s when you get an idk from me

If it’s just a pleasantry by some english person (in my language this isn’t a standard question a stranger or customer support will ask you) then I’ll probably pick a random euphemism

From Germans I’ve learned that they say “muss”, meaning must. Like, you must get on with life but not because you seek out what you’re going through but because life doesn’t stop. At least that’s my working understanding of this deceptively simple word

“Good, you?”

“up and not crying”

…that is, if I’m not crying.

“I am vertical.”

“Not too bad.”

just say “Life, ya know” If they are only being polite they’ll answer “for sure” and thats it.
If they really care and want to know theyll ask more and then you can go into more detail.

Brought to you by “protocols autistic people have to memorize” lol that being me

“Well enough” if you want to be genuine, but brief and convey that things are not aces.

But usually just mirroring “How are you!” in the same tone as the first part of the greeting establishes that it is a ritual, not a question.

I’m awake, but I’d rather not be.

Treat it non-literally. Say ‘How’s it going?’ which turns it into a greeting rather than a question.

Just yeah, not bad like the rest of us do.

My goto is “Every day is better than the next.”

In German, we say “shitty would be bragging”.

“I’m here”

People don’t talk to me much.

“Still kicking but not screaming!”

The horrors persist, but so do i.