I smile and say I’m fine when it comes to talking about my body.

When my partner asks if I’m worried about my body, even on the way home from work on Friday, “I’m fine” comes out first.

Scenes

I say I’m fine first — As Friday evening rolls around, my partner asks if I’m worried about my body. I smile and say I’m fine. The question I want to ask gets stuck in my throat.
The worry stays between us — A worry about your body isn’t just a request for information. As you watch how your partner might take it, your question can get shorter.
I open the search bar again — That night, I type my worry into the search bar, then erase it. Information I read alone can’t take the place of a question between us.
Separate the worry from the ask — In an intimate conversation, separating “what I’m worried about” from “what I want to ask my partner” can make it clearer where to begin.
Write down one thing to ask — Tonight, try writing down what you want to check in one sentence. You don’t have to decide in advance how your partner will answer.
Questions remain after “I’m fine” — You may still have questions after saying you’re fine. You can start with one sentence and keep the conversation going together.