"distressing (or disturbing) news"
"lived in heroic if something distressful isolation"
"a disturbing amount of crime"
"a revelation that was most perturbing"
"a new and troubling thought"
"in a particularly worrisome predicament"
"a worrying situation"
"a worrying time"
"my finances were in a deplorable state"
"a lamentable decision"
"her clothes were in sad shape"
"a sorry state of affairs"