"Three minutes without air, three hours without shelter, three days without water, three weeks without food."
(Obviously, these numbers are modified by conditions - especially the second, the shelter number reflects the environments that survival situations tend to occur in).
Most people have been thirsty in their lives. Most people have been really thirsty. I think that makes them think they understand what it is like to be dying of thirst. It doesn't even come close. This is a hellish situation to be in. I've been there. In my case, it was my fault. If somebody else had done this to me - and if a government violating my rights had done it to me...
I have a question for you. When I went through survival school in the AF more than 20 years ago, the same mantra was used, and they stated that, when you had no water, the time to be afraid was when you no longer felt thirsty. Did this happen to you, did you ever not feel thirsty during your ordeal?
Regarding shelter, I know from reports that folks who were suffering from hypothermia often no longer felt cold, and actually removed clothing because they felt too warm.
My dad was an amphibious tank driver in WW2. He did the whole Pacific.
Of all the things he said were the worst, was 2 days without water and looking at sea water all around him.
He said it was the worst experience he ever endured, God rest his soul.