afflict：（v 通常用于被动语态）使某人某物苦恼、疼痛或悲伤 ～ sb/sth with sth
Severe drought has afflicted the countryside。
严重的干旱使乡村深受其害。
She is afflicted with（suffers from）arthritis。
她患关节炎。
affliction（n）疼痛，折磨，悲痛；造成痛苦的事物
help people in affliction
帮助受苦的人
It is hard to bear up under affliction.
受尽折磨仍不屈不挠是很不容易的。
My god! Live or die, both are affliction for such a poor man like me.
我的天哪！对于像我这样的穷人而言，活着或者死去都是一种折磨。
Compare the present occasion with such an affliction as that, and be thankful for the friends you have, instead of coveting more.
把现在的情况和这么一种苦恼比较一下，你就该感谢你已经有了朋友，不要再贪多啦。
distress：（通常用于被动语态）给某人某物带来痛苦，悲伤，苦难，贫困，困苦，危难等
（n）极大的痛苦，悲伤，苦难等（的缘由）；贫困，困苦；危难，困境
Towards the end of the marathon several runners showed signs of distress。
马拉松比赛接近终点时，有些参赛者显出极难受的样子。
Her death was a great distress to the family。
她去世后全家人极为悲痛。
A ship in distress 遇险的船
distressing （adj）令人痛苦的，令人苦恼的