Your Privacy is Important to us

We encourage you to review our Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms listed here. In case you want to opt out, please click "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link in the footer of this page.

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

We won't sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.

Continue on TOI App
Open App
Login for better experience!
Login Now
Welcome! to timesofindia.com
TOI INDTOI USTOI GCC
TOI+
  • Home
  • Live
  • TOI Games
  • Top Headlines
  • India
  • City News
  • Photos
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Entertainment
  • Movie Reviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcasts
  • Elections
  • Web Series
  • Sports
  • TV
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Events
  • World
  • Music
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Auto
  • Education
  • Log Out
Follow Us On
Open App
  • ETIMES
  • CINEMA
  • VIDEOS
  • TV
  • LIFESTYLE
  • VISUAL STORIES
  • MUSIC
  • TRAVEL
  • FOOD
  • TRENDING
  • EVENTS
  • THEATRE
  • PHOTOS
  • MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MOVIE LISTINGS
  • HEALTH
  • RELATIONSHIP
  • WEB SERIES
  • BOX OFFICE

Subtle body language signs that indicate psychological distress

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Jul 27, 2021, 21:00 IST
Comments
Share
1/6

Subtle body language signs that indicate psychological distress

Psychological distress is a state of the emotional suffering of a human being that is related to the demands that are difficult to fulfill in real life. Psychological distress needs extra care and attention as it leads to frustation and suffering in human life. These are the unpleasant feelings that you feel when you are overwhelmed. For helping someone cope up with it, first, you need to know about the signs of psychological distress. Here are subtle body language clues that indicate psychological distress.

2/6

Freeze response

Very often than not people tend to freeze in certain triggering situations. People continue to freeze in the middle of some ongoing situation that isn't right or threatening. Similarly, if someone is notified of a devastating news or a crime, they respond in the same freezing manner. This is one of the signs that tells someone is in deep psychological distress.

3/6

Repetitive behaviors

Repetitive behaviors help people in dealing with stress. From foot bouncing to swinging back and forth helps deal with our stress in different situations. When something terrible happens or a piece of bad news has been received, not only adults but also children show signs of back and forth motion. This captures the delicacy of the situation and helps them deal with stress.

4/6

Fetal position

According to the research, it suggests that a piece of overwhelming news registers on the same brain area as someone has been physically kicked. Therefore, even while listening to disastrous news tends to kick in at our stomachs with fear. People often feel themselves in a fetal and weak position after listening to bad news.

5/6

Interlaced fingers

This is a behavior that is usually seen when a person is upset or distraught. The behavior is performed subconsciously by people by interlacing their stiffened fingers. The stiffened fingers indicate conscious awareness and increased tactile stimulation. This interlaced finger behavior has often been seen in people while addressing sensitive news or dealing with certain traumas.

6/6

Sucked in lips

We have very often seen this behavior with people in terms of facing some disappointment in a situation or facing a huge crowd for a public apology. This lips sucked-in behavior is a sign of great distress. It communicates to people naturally about one's helplessness and psychological distress in life. With time, we adapt to this behavior and start understanding what it actually means.

Start a Conversation

Post comment
Featured In lifestyle
  • Consistency matters more than grand gestures in parenting: 4 ways busy parents can make children feel secure and valued
  • 7 myths about obesity that need to be left behind
  • Meet Rounak Adhikary: Ashneer Grover once told him ‘Tu Baith Jaa Yaar’ and cut off his pitch mid-sentence; now he's living every startup founder's dream
  • Amid divorce rumours, Victoria Beckham shares family moments with David Beckham in Ibiza
  • Building smart money habits early: 4 ways parents can encourage goal-setting and patience in children
  • Optical illusion personality test: Hand or old man? What you see first reveals if you are reserved or controlling in nature
  • 7 powerful reverse psychology tricks that usually work
  • 5 surprising ways yoga changes your mind and soul (not just your body)
  • Success quote of the day by Virat Kohli: “Whatever you want to do, do it with...”
Photostories
  • Divyanka Tripathi shares emotional moments from twin boys' birth; Delivery room glimpses to Harshdeep Kaur singing “Chanda Hai Tu” for the newborns
  • 'Stranger Things' to 'Game of Thrones': Series that gained popularity owing to their conspiracy theories
  • Samantha Ruth Prabhu defies summer fashion rules in leather pants and absolutely wins
  • Why does postpartum hair fall happen?Causes, treatment, and effective ways to manage it
  • 7 powerful reverse psychology tricks that usually work
  • 6 types of litchi available in India and how to pick the sweetest one at the market
  • 22-year-old influencer dies after dealing with depression and anxiety: 7 things women should do before reaching a breaking point
  • Kriti Sanon is serving flirty luxe with emerald envy in this Rs 67,000 designer mini dress for ‘Cocktail 2' promotions
  • Archana Puran Singh’s son Aaryamann gives a glimpse of his new approximately Rs 50 crore house in Madh Island; he shares an important update
Explore more Stories
  • 11
    What happens when you drink coconut water for 15 days daily in summer season and foods to pair with it
  • 5
    Why does postpartum hair fall happen?Causes, treatment, and effective ways to manage it
  • 13
    6 types of litchi available in India and how to pick the sweetest one at the market
  • 5
    Kriti Sanon is serving flirty luxe with emerald envy in this Rs 67,000 designer mini dress for ‘Cocktail 2' promotions
  • 6
    5 surprising ways yoga changes your mind and soul (not just your body)
Up Next
  • ETimes
  • /
  • Life & Style
  • /
  • Relationships
  • /
  • Love & Sex
  • /
  • Subtle body language signs that indicate psychological distress
About UsTerms Of UsePrivacy PolicyCookie Policy

Copyright © Jun 1, 2026, 01.09AM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service