Responding to stress

Individuals all respond differently to stress but the most common psychological reactions are anger, apathy and anxiety.

Physiological reactions include activation of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system, resulting in increased levels of adrenaline, blood sugar, HR and blood pressure (flight or fight response).

If stress is prolonged Seyle (1956) states that following the alarm reaction stage (noted above) there is a resistance stage where the body tries to revert to normal functioning thus coping with the increased adrenaline.

Continued stress results in exhaustion or collapse. Whilst trying to deal with the increased stress the body has gradually depleated its’ own resources. The adrenal cortex fails to function correctly and this results in physiological problems like ulcers, heart disease and high blood pressure.

This model is called the General Adaptation Model (GAS)