Stages of General adaptation syndrome

As noted on page 112 of our test, Hans Selye was among the first researchers to present the notion that the body's response to stress, which are healthy, when endured for extended periods of time can cause homeostatic imbalance and lead to illness and disease. Stress defined as a condition of change, strain, or disequilibrium has been found to affect both the body and mind through various interacting domains such as genetic or biologic response, behavior (coping), cognition, sociocultural values, and life events (environmental).

Theory suggests that the disequilibrium in any of the above mentioned domains will affect the other in some interconnected way. When chronic stress affects an individual to the point that they can not return to a normal individual range of balance between their five domains, it is likely that the body will naturally respond to maintain this equilibrium. An example of the biological response domain would be a direct surge of incoming sensory information.

One day this week it snowed, and the back roads I drive to class are often covered by shade. Several icy patches were left, even after the sun melted most of the snow. During my drive I was very cautious when I spotted icy patches ahead. A small truck that was directly in front of me hydroplaned on one of the patches and I had to compensate by carefully pumping my breaks. Aware of the epinephrine that my nervous system secreted rapidly and the surge of hormones secreted by my endocrine glands, I recognized this as the flight or fight response (biologic and cognitive). It was brief and necessary stress needed to adapt to the situation. Since it was brief, my body quickly adapted. It is understandable how continued responses without return to homeostasis could lead to chronic stress and illness.