Which model describes the body's response to chronic stress with the phases of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion?

Which model describes the body's response to chronic stress with the phases of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion?

• A. General adaptation syndrome
• B. Fight-or-flight theory
• C. Homeostatic model
• D. Stress response cycle

Answer: (A)

The general adaptation syndrome describes how the body responds to chronic stress through three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. In the alarm stage, the threat triggers the sympathetic nervous system and the HPA axis, releasing adrenaline and cortisol to ready the body for action—heart rate and energy availability rise as you prepare to confront or escape the stressor. During the resistance stage, the body attempts to adapt to the ongoing stress by sustaining arousal and mobilizing resources to cope, keeping hormones elevated but managing the demand. If the stress continues, the exhaustion stage follows, when energy reserves are depleted and the body's defenses weaken, making you more vulnerable to illness or burnout. This framework is distinct from the immediate fight-or-flight idea, which captures only the quick, initial reaction to danger and not the extended process described here. It’s also not typically framed as a “homeostatic” model or a different term like a “stress response cycle,” which don’t convey the same three-stage progression that chronic stress produces.

The general adaptation syndrome describes how the body responds to chronic stress through three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. In the alarm stage, the threat triggers the sympathetic nervous system and the HPA axis, releasing adrenaline and cortisol to ready the body for action—heart rate and energy availability rise as you prepare to confront or escape the stressor. During the resistance stage, the body attempts to adapt to the ongoing stress by sustaining arousal and mobilizing resources to cope, keeping hormones elevated but managing the demand. If the stress continues, the exhaustion stage follows, when energy reserves are depleted and the body's defenses weaken, making you more vulnerable to illness or burnout.

This framework is distinct from the immediate fight-or-flight idea, which captures only the quick, initial reaction to danger and not the extended process described here. It’s also not typically framed as a “homeostatic” model or a different term like a “stress response cycle,” which don’t convey the same three-stage progression that chronic stress produces.