When you ask "how are you?" And you only expecting "Fine,thanks" then why do you even ask?

they want you to fake it till you make it

But when you ask 'how are you' to some people, you immediately become their doctor, surgeon, financial advisor, therapist, mechanic and victim...

In common usage, it is more often a way of saying hello (and thus fulfilling some of the social niceties), not a serious inquiry into the health--physical, mental, spiritual, emotional--of you and yours.

The expected response should be proffered unless your world is falling apart...and even then, think twice. 😉

When I ask my friends "How are you" I really want to know how they are. Otherwise, you are correct, I really don't expect anyone to tell me how the feel. Sometimes I am surprised, and that's okay.

I alwaya say fine. Nobody wants to know my problems