experience distress

USAGE SUMMARY

'experience distress' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a situation in which someone is feeling deep emotional pain or suffering. Example Sentence: Many people who have to live with chronic illnesses experience distress on a regular basis.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Patients who have surgery may experience distress in the following days.

Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing

He is in a dilemma; whether he goes or stays he will experience distress.

Encyclopedia Britannica

How can social media platforms better foster well-being when people experience distress and stigma?

University of California, Berkeley

What has emerged is that kids exposed more closely to the event, geographically or personally, are more at risk to experience distress and potentially develop disorders.

The New York Times

The Trump administration's new policy also bars future applicants who've been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a condition that can apply to people who identify as another gender and experience distress.

The Washington Post

We tested whether mindfulness de-couples the expected anxiogenic effects of distress intolerance on psychological and physiological reactivity to and recovery from an anxiogenic stressor among participants experimentally sensitized to experience distress.

Behaviour Research and Therapy

These findings suggest that women who participate in prenatal counseling and testing may be subject to experience distress and unrealistic perceptions of their risk and may benefit from interventions designed to lessen these states.

Patient Education and Counseling

Underweight men showed a "defensive but active" pattern, expressing high avoidance on multiple dimensions, high levels of fusion, but also showing high hope and willingness to experience distress when pursuing goals.

Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science

Nearly twenty million people contend that they regularly experience distress after eating products that contain gluten, and a third of American adults say that they are trying to eliminate it from their diets.

The New Yorker

Research suggests that children who experience distress in a medical setting at a young age are less likely to access health care in adulthood, so she says it's important to find ways to reduce pain during pediatric care.

The New York Times

Social media platforms are often celebrated for their capacity to connect; yet expressing oneâs identity and seeking as well as providing social support on these platforms can be difficult when people experience distress and stigma.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about sensitive topics, using "experience distress" can be more empathetic than directly stating someone is "suffering".

Common error

While "experience distress" is generally acceptable, overuse in formal or business writing can make the writing sound repetitive. Consider using synonyms like "face challenges" or "encounter difficulties" for variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "experience distress" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "experience" acts as a transitive verb taking "distress" as its direct object. It describes the act of undergoing or feeling emotional or psychological suffering. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in many contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "experience distress" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe the act of undergoing emotional or psychological suffering. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is appropriate for general use. It appears frequently in scientific, news, and academic contexts. When writing, ensure the tone aligns with the sensitivity of the topic and consider synonyms to avoid repetition. As shown by the examples available on Ludwig, this phrase provides a nuanced and empathetic way to express the emotional state of individuals facing difficult circumstances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suffer emotionally

Specifically points to emotional pain as the source of distress.

feel emotional strain

Highlights the pressure and stress on one's emotional state.

undergo suffering

Focuses more on the passive reception of negative experiences.

encounter psychological pain

Focuses on the mental and emotional discomfort experienced.

feel anguish

Emphasizes intense emotional pain and torment.

face emotional challenges

Emphasizes the active confrontation with difficult emotional circumstances.

endure hardship

Highlights the aspect of tolerating difficult conditions or circumstances.

bear the brunt of adversity

Highlights facing the most severe impact of challenges.

be subjected to torment

Implies a state of severe suffering and agony inflicted upon someone.

go through a difficult time

A more general way of describing a period of hardship.

FAQs

How can I use "experience distress" in a sentence?

You can use "experience distress" to describe situations where individuals undergo emotional or psychological suffering. For example, "Patients often "experience distress" after a major surgery."

What are some alternatives to "experience distress"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "undergo suffering", "feel anguish", or "suffer emotionally".

Is it more appropriate to use "experience distress" or simply "suffer"?

"Experience distress" can be a more nuanced and empathetic way to describe someone's suffering, especially when acknowledging the emotional and psychological impact of a situation. "Suffer" is a more direct and potentially stronger term.

What factors might cause someone to "experience distress"?

Various factors can lead to someone experiencing distress, including traumatic events, chronic illnesses, financial difficulties, and relationship problems. The intensity and duration of the distress can vary greatly.