I don't lie but I hold back on a regular basis with relatives and friends. If asked how I am I may say, not so good but I'm still going.

That usually is all they want to hear. I have found they don't like to hear any details or if they do they give me useless advice or "you should ....". I consider it useless most the time because they don't understand either my limitations or the depth of the trigger for me. Heck, they don't even get what a trigger is. (nor do they seem to care).

So, instead of responding with the 'whole' truth, I limit my responses dependent on the ability of the listener to understand. I have very little tolerance with unacceptable advice. It infers that the listener doesn't know me or want to try to know me and that hurts.

Now if my therapist asks, I'm dead on exactly how I feel. But the rest of the world- I have to wonder if asked just for politeness or they really want to know.