General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) – Helps in Understanding Stress and Stress Management Techniques

Different types of stresses impact our body in different ways. In its most simple explanation, General Adaption Syndrome (GAS) is the process of short and long term impact of stress on the human body.

Almost a century ago (1936) an Austrian scientist Hans Selye, introduced the General Adaptation Syndrome concept representing a 3 stage reaction to stress. 

Stress creates numerous chemical changes in our body to create energy to deal with it.  According to Selye, there is very limited adaptive energy available within our body to deal with stress, so when it becomes chronic this energy declines with continuous exposure.

Body constantly works to regain normalcy in many different steps.  In his theory Hans Selye describes progression of GAS  in three important stages.

Stage 1 – Alarm Stage

This is the commonly known fight or flight stage. The body in this stage releases cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline and numerous other psychological changes to combat the stress.
This release of extra energy in the body system is like an alarm so that a quick response to stress is given by the body to deal with the danger. 

However, if the released energy is not utilized by physical activity then it can be harmful as it can increase blood pressure and damage the cells and muscles tissues inducing cardiovascular conditions, stroke or high blood sugar and other gastrointestinal problems affecting the metabolism.

Stage 2 – Resistance or Adaptive Stage

If stress continues for longer period then the immune system is compromised and the body becomes adaptive to the stress. Then the body remains in the continuous arousal stage.

Stage 3 – Exhaustion Stage

If the stress continues past the adaptive stage then the body’s ability to deal with it diminishes to an extent that the stress begins to build up. It can no longer be dealt with.

This is when it starts causing maximum damage to the body. This type of chronic stress then begins to damage organs. This stage is the final stage of the General Adaption Syndrome and is called exhaustion stage.

In today’s life style there are endless mediums to cause stress and dealing and coping with stress is becoming a challenge.

Learn more about stress in the other related articles:

Other related articles

• How to Deal With Stress?
• General Adaptation Syndrome