What are syntactic and semantic cues?

What does this hand gesture say about my friend (Non-verbal cues)?

• My friend was talking to me about a lot of issues she is having with her family. I started noticing she was wrapping the tissue she had in her hand around her index finger with pressure, as we started talking about things that are difficult for her to deal with..I'm not really sure how to read these gestures, and what to think about what it says about how she was feeling. I would really appreciate some different perspectives on this view of non--verbal cues and hand gestures, Please?!?? Please be nice, Thank you,

• Answer:

  She's fretting nervous energy. She's uncomfortable with the issues and/or discussing them with you.