When "I don't care" hides that I really do

Often, "I don't care" hides that I DO care and am worried about emotional attachment.

I may say "I don't care" if supervisors are worried about my internet usage, but really I am worried about that, and trying to hide my worry, or control anxiety levels or something.

I may say "I don't care" about my current life feeling kind of boring, but really, I do care, but feel frustrated at not being able to do more about it, or at least thinking I can't.

I may say "I don't care" about another person liking me, but really, I do care, but am not sure how I want to respond, whether it's due to old trust issues or something else.

In short, "I don't care" is a defense mechanism.

It's old. It's learned from a childhood of seeing people often either not care, or pretend to care for ulterior motives.

Caring, even about my own inner emotions, is scary.