If you have been a hard time and its ongoing what do you say to someone you meet who asks how are things?

I think most people say things like how are things just to be polite right they don't really care and don't really want to know but what when its someone who knows about your hardships, what do you say to them the standard fine thanks or should you say well you know I have a hard time at the moment with this that and the other but aside from all the nightmare I'm fine thanks