So, i feel like I've heard this question a lot lately and usually I don't like it, because I usually just give the same answer. Especially right now, because I've felt extra down lately and just want to hide in my room.. -.-. So, when I've gotten this from old friends, relatives or just people I haven't seen in a long time, then I'm slightly uncomfortable, but not really that bothered by it, unless they ask me it all the time, but I'm mostly thinking of this particular person. 

There is this guy in my student hall, who I bump in to quite often and he asks me it almost every time we see each other. And I know there are some who actually appreciate being asked this question because it means that they get to vent and/or because it shows that someone cares enough to ask. So I shouldn't actually blame them for trying, but when he asks the same question all the time and almost always gets the same answer (which is usually ’fine’ or ’good’), I don’t see the point. Like, I think if he would just ask "what's up?", which I, by the way, think would be more appropriate because I see him so regularly, I’d be more comfortable. So it's just the choice of word. "What's up?" would feel more normal, less deep, and I wouldn't feel like I'd have to explain every detail about my mental health or life situation, however it would still  be annoying when he’d ask me it EVERY TIME I say hi. When he started doing it, it was like he was trying to teach me some sort of life lesson, like after he asked me that like 10 times I finally just answered normal instead of good, and he was like ”great” while smiling and blablabla.  I also feel like I get annoyed because, even if we should break the boundaries, mental health stigma and talk about how we feel, the person who want’s to talk should come to them first and not the other way around and I don't think he’s entitled to know how I feel, because WE’RE NOT CLOSE FRIENDS OR ANYTHING, so there’s that. 

I mean I've asked him the same back a few times and it's usually the same answer ”like, yeah I’M great” or you know something vague, like ’you know.. *grimace* ok” so he doesn't really go deep into it himself. But I don’t know, maybe it's just a normal question for him and I'm the only one putting deeper meaning to it.

Anyhow, I don’t think I actually dislike this question in general. I've got  this friend/close acquaintance and whenever she asks me ”how are you?”, I feel genuinely glad, appreciated and not attacked. Maybe because she doesn't ask me that all the time and because she herself opens up a lot about her own feelings. Sorry for this long rant, i'm not particularly that annoyed or bothered, it's just some thoughts I wanted to get rid of. I guess I’m just someone who don’t like to talk about my feelings.