Chapter 10: Stress and wellness
General adaption syndrome (GAS) A pattern of stress responses consisting of three stages: alarm,
resistance, and exhaustion. A universal and predictable response pattern to all stressors
Eustress: Stress resulting from a pleasant stressor
Distress: stress resulting from an unpleasant stressor
Alarm: sequence of events brought on by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and
the endocrine system- the fight-or-flight- reaction. The body is more susceptible to disease or
injury because it is geared up to deal with crisis. A person may experience headaches, indigestion,
anxiety, and disrupted sleeping and eating patterns.
Resistance or Adaption: continued stress, the body develops a new level of homeostasis in which
it is more resistant to disease and injury than normal.
Exhaustion: mobilization of forces during the alarm reaction and the maintenance of homeostasis
during the resistance stage requires a considerable amount of energy. If a stressor persists, or if
several stressors occur in succession, general exhaustion results… It’s a life threatening type of
physiological exhaustion characterized by such symptoms as distorted perceptions and
disorganized thinking.
Allostatic Load: The long-term wear and tear of the stress response. Long term exposure to such
stress hormones as cortisol has been linked with a variety of health problems. High cortisol levels
are associated with metabolic syndrome, for example, a condition linked to increased risk of heart
disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, and osteoporosis.
Depends on factors such as:
• Genetics
• Life experiences
• Emotional and behavioural responses to stressors
High Allostatic Load due to:
• Frequent stressors
• Poor adaption to common stressors
• Inability to shut down the stress response
• Imbalances in the stress response different body systems.
Also linked to:
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
