distress vs hurting

distress and hurting both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
distress	Yes	No	Yes	No
hurting	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, hurting is a hypernym of distress; that is, hurting is a word with a broader meaning than distress:

Other hypernyms of distress include pain.

distress (noun)	hurting (noun)
the seizure and holding of property as security for payment of a debt or satisfaction of a claim	a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
psychological suffering
extreme physical pain
a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need)

distress (verb)	hurting (verb)
cause mental pain to
bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship