>>17337448
>I can still randomly run into them on the street.

Use the sidewalk instead of the street

>>17337448
Do you feel the pressure to impress your ex-acquaintances?

>>17337472
I don't know if I deep down want to impress them. I just don't like having to explain why my life isn't exactly good, or give them the chance to feel pity for me.

>>17337492
But you don't. Just say you don't wanna talk about it.

>>17337499
Well, saying "i dont wanna talk about it" definitely implies something's wrong, right? Either way you are right, I shouldn't mind being rude to people that I have no interest in having them in my life, or care about what they think.

>>17337504
You can improve to the point where people won't pity you. But you must do it for yourself, not them.

Respond with the same bs they give you

How's it going

Good, you?

Good. Been doing x,y with my hobbies, z with school/work
Just make that shit up

I've being in similar situations though fortunately manged to avoid the issue, mostly.

I don't think it's about trying to impress anyone. I think it's more about casually expressing a negative situation to someone you're not comfortable doing so to.

In instances where I haven't being able to avoid this issue, I've found my self spinning the true to make it less of a anxiety to talk about.

I volunteer two days a week, usually, at an outdoor retreat for people with mental health issues. This I have a spun as: "I'm between jobs at the moment, but I'm volunteering at an outdoor project in the countryside"

If you don't have any truth to base your response on, fabricate something, ahead of time and practice saying it even if only in your head.

Thanks for the advice!