General:
* Troubled: This is a common and neutral term for someone facing difficulties.
* Struggling: This implies effort and difficulty in overcoming challenges.
* Adversity: This refers to difficult situations or misfortunes.
* Hardship: This suggests significant suffering or deprivation.
* Trials: This refers to tests or difficult experiences that can strengthen someone.
More specific:
* Afflicted: This implies being affected by something harmful or painful.
* Battered: This suggests being severely damaged or worn down by problems.
* Plagued: This implies being continuously bothered or harassed by something.
* Beset: This suggests being surrounded or overwhelmed by problems.
* Tortured: This implies extreme mental or emotional suffering.
Informal:
* Going through a rough patch: This is a casual way to say someone is having a difficult time.
* Having a hard time: This is a simple and direct way to express difficulty.
The best word to use will depend on the specific context and the level of formality you want to achieve.