I am from Ukraine, now living in states. Since the beginning of war, many questions about my homeland, family, and current situation overall became very sensitive for me, to the point where I would start crying if asked something innocent like “how is your family?”. At the same time, many people at work became very curious or concerned, offered help or simply asked the exact type of questions that I didn’t feel like answering at all

I dealt with it by bluntly stating “if I discuss it I usually cry and I don’t feel that is appropriate in work setting” to the people I have good relationships with, something along the lines of “I am not ready to talk about it” to the people I don’t have a strong connection with, or just giving the look like “nope” to random “just curious” folks

I quickly learned, that declining to answer a question and being honest about it has no negative influence on relationships with people who respect boundaries. Don’t be afraid of drawing a red line which nobody is allowed to cross, and decline the access to private information whenever you feel like it (you don’t need a dramatic reason like I had in this situation), because THIS is normal and healthy, not the other way around. People have no moral right to be offended because you don’t want to open to them, and you’ll be better off having this thought settled in your brain for life