If the stressor persists and is not removed, which GAS stage follows the alarm reaction?

If the stressor persists and is not removed, which GAS stage follows the alarm reaction?

• A. Alarm Reaction
• B. Exhaustion Stage
• C. Parasympathetic activation
• D. Resistance Stage

Answer: (D)

When stress sticks around, the body moves from the quick alarm response into a period of sustained adaptation called the resistance stage. In this phase, the body stays on high alert and keeps resources mobilized to cope with the ongoing demand. Hormones like cortisol and adrenaline stay elevated, supporting continued energy, focus, and performance while the body tries to function under the stress. The goal here is to endure and adapt rather than just react to the immediate threat, which is why arousal remains, even though it’s not as intense as at the moment of the alarm. If the stressor continues beyond what the body's coping mechanisms can handle, those resources become depleted, leading to the next stage—exhaustion—where tiredness, reduced immune function, and other signs of wear appear. Parasympathetic activation, which would promote rest and recovery, isn’t the driver of the resistance phase; it typically comes into play when the system shifts toward recovery after the heightened state.

When stress sticks around, the body moves from the quick alarm response into a period of sustained adaptation called the resistance stage. In this phase, the body stays on high alert and keeps resources mobilized to cope with the ongoing demand. Hormones like cortisol and adrenaline stay elevated, supporting continued energy, focus, and performance while the body tries to function under the stress. The goal here is to endure and adapt rather than just react to the immediate threat, which is why arousal remains, even though it’s not as intense as at the moment of the alarm.

If the stressor continues beyond what the body's coping mechanisms can handle, those resources become depleted, leading to the next stage—exhaustion—where tiredness, reduced immune function, and other signs of wear appear. Parasympathetic activation, which would promote rest and recovery, isn’t the driver of the resistance phase; it typically comes into play when the system shifts toward recovery after the heightened state.