GAS

Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

What he found was that the same syndrome appeared, or the same cluster of symptoms that Selye concluded were symptomatic of a stress response. He argued that it in the short term, stress allows us to cope with environmental demands…like fight or flight… in the long term though, the effects can be very damaging, which led Selye to conclude that there are three stages in the response to stress.

Alarm Reaction

Increased SAM activity, also HPA.  Develops 6 – 48 hours after stress, why it involves both branches.  Loss of muscular tone, drop in body temperature.

Resistance

Adaptation stage, HPA dominant.  Body tries to cope with environment.  The parasympathetic process uses up body resources increasingly.  Increase in adrenal gland activity, body will…