Cuando temes algo, o estás a menazado, es un sin vivir.
English?

can we translate sinvivir for "What an anguish"

what about "to be on tenterhooks"?
segun la DRAE:
sinvivir.
Estado de angustia que hace vivir con intranquilidad a quien lo sufre.

I think a good translation is : to be on pins and needles.

I dont not what are you trying to say there but I belive that if exist the aguish exist the pain of the soul.

I agree

I've never heard this before - is this AmE ? In BrE, pins and needles are not associated with anxiety. :thinking: Although I'm no longer sure of anything.

Isn't "pins and needles" that horrible feeling you get when blood supply is restored to extremities? i.e. when you sit in an aukward position or kneel down for too long the blood supply is temporarily cut off and when it rushes back you get pin and needles.:thinking:

Yes - which is why I asked about its use above. :)

To be on edge:thinking:

I agree. Pins & needles is a prickly feeling, for instance when the nerves in your arm go dead.

To be on pins and needles is to be anxt ridden. It may not necessarily be negative. Example: You can see the nominated actor on pins and needles just before they announce the winner.

http://www.goenglish.com/OnPinsAndNeedles.asp