So how does one approach being contacted on Linked-In? [View all]

I'm in a career group, and people add me to their network. I get the sense this is a place where one never admits any degree of negativity. A powerhouse person adds me to their network, then messages "hope all is well." Now let me say I'm sure she knows all is not well. But I wouldn't tell her, I wouldn't say "actually everything fell apart months ago." So what do I say? I'm thinking just ignore her. I wouldn't ask for a referral, or help, or anything else. I wouldn't have anything specific anyway. Am I making any sense? Maybe it's just newbie awkwardness. Or career vulnerability. Or I don't understand Linked-In as a social media in career networking. Me, who's posted 30K plus on DU with reckless abandon, is flummoxed on social media!