AIPC Article Library | General adaptation syndrome theory
AIPCMentalHealthAcademyNewsletterBlogCoursesContact------------------------------HomeCaseStudiesCommunication CommunicationSkills CounsellingMicroskillsCounsellingTheory&Practice CounsellingProcess Children&Families EthicalIssues Sexuality&GenderIssues Neuropsychology PracticeManagement RelationshipCounselling SocialSupport Therapies&Approaches WorkplaceIssuesMentalHealthIssues Addictions Anxiety&Depression PersonalityDisorders Self-Harming&SuicideLifeCopingSkills EffectivenessSkills Stress&BurnoutStudyOptions DiplomaofCounselling DiplomaofFinancialCounselling DiplomaofCommunityServices(CaseManagement) DiplomaofYouthWork BachelorofCounselling BachelorofHumanServices MasterofCounsellingAIPCArticleLibrary|GeneralAdaptationSyndromeCounsellingTheory&Practice prevnext GeneralAdaptationSyndromeMarch15,2010Generaladaptationsyndromedescribesthebody’sshort-termandlong-termreactiontostress.OriginallydescribedbyHansDeSolyeinthe1920s,thegeneraladaptationsyndromedescribesathreestagereactiontostresscoveringourinitialreactiontothestressor,ourresistanceandadaptationtocopingwiththestressorandoureventualexhaustionafterdealingwiththestresswherebyinnormalcircumstanceswewillrecoverfromthatexhaustionandlivetodealwithstressorsanotherday.AlarmReactionPhaseDuringthealarmreactionphase,astressordisturbshomeostasis.Homeostasisisapointofbalanceorinternalbiologicalequilibrium.Thebrainsubconsciouslyperceivesthestressorandpreparesthebodyeithertofightortorunaway,aresponsesometimescalledthefightorflightresponse.Whenthemindperceivesastressor,thecerebralcortex,iscalledtoattention.Ifthecerebralcortexconsciouslyorunconsciouslyperceivesathreat,ittriggersanautonomicnervoussystemresponsethatpreparesthebodyforaction.Theautonomicnervoussystemistheportionofthecentralnervoussystemthatregulatesbodilyfunctionsthatwedonotnormallyconsciouslycontrol.Whenwearestressed,therateofallthesebodilyfunctionsincreasesdramaticallytogiveusthephysicals