agonize

This term conveys a sense of intense, prolonged struggle, whether the pain is psychological or physical. When used in the context of decision-making, it suggests a state of paralysis or extreme anxiety where the individual is trapped by the weight of the choice, often implying that the process is more exhausting than the decision itself.

In a medical or terminal context, the word describes the visceral, raw experience of dying or enduring peak physical torture. It carries a much heavier emotional and physical load than words like worry or suffer, signaling a peak of distress that is often unbearable.