I think I probably said it to my therapist at one time or another, but it wasn't an big deal for me to say. It was not anything but love I would have for anyone I cared about -- like a close friend or family member -- platonic, not romantic -- so I didn't have any qualms about saying it. I honestly don't remember the event of saying it because it just wasn't a huge deal to do so. I know my therapist did the same, and again, it was not a big event, just something said in conversation along the way.

I know that for some people, saying those words feels like it comes with such heavy baggage. I'm sure that makes it weigh on your mind and creates anxiety about it. But I don't think it is all that unusual for people to share those words with each other simply out of gratefulness for relationship and support. My experience has been that most people don't get terribly freaked about by those words, but until you've had enough of those normalizing experiences, I'm sure it is anxiety-making.

Have you considered just writing down, maybe a short letter, those words? For me, it isn't so much the words as it is why I feel that sense of love for an individual. Often it is because of their kindness and support, and I've found people appreciate being appreciated -- and if love is part of that feeling of appreciation, that's pretty natural.