A distressing experience is an event that causes emotional distress, fear, or pain. The crossword solutions for this term are ORDEAL (6 letters), TRAUMA (6 letters), HORRORSHOW (10 letters), and HORRORSTORY (11 letters). An ORDEAL is a difficult or unpleasant experience that requires great effort or endurance. TRAUMA is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. A horror show is an extremely unpleasant or frightening experience. A horror story is a narrative that evokes fear, dread, and shock in the reader.