I remember hearing if you really want to know, you have to ask three times. Tbh, this could just really annoy some people though./ "Well, I was fine, then you kept asking me the same question and now I'm annoyed!"
Tbf, "Surviving" sounds more like a 'comedic' answer to me, if you know what I mean? We're all surviving after all. I mean, you might ask someone how they are that's just been hit by a car and they're bleeding very badly and they might
not be surviving... but...
I do remember someone once replied something like 'not so good' and tbh I didn't pick up on it and they called me on it. So grateful they did. It kind of made me treat "How are things?" like an actual question that I want to know the answer to, rather than just a casual greeting.