EXCI 251 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Insomnia, Asthma, Biofeedback
27 Oct 2014
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Document Summary
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. 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.
