What are the three stages of General Adaptation Syndrome described by Selye?

• A. Alarm, Resistance, Exhaustion
• B. Activation, Adaptation, Recovery
• C. Alert, Mobilization, Depletion
• D. Stress, Coping, Healing

Answer: (A)

General Adaptation Syndrome describes how the body responds to stress in three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. In the alarm stage, the body activates the fight-or-flight response, with the hypothalamus triggering the sympathetic nervous system and HPA axis. This leads to rapid release of adrenaline and cortisol, increasing heart rate, glucose, and alertness to meet an immediate threat. In the resistance stage, the body tries to cope with the ongoing stress. Hormonal and autonomic activity remain elevated as resources are mobilized to adapt, and tissues work to return to balance despite continued stress. If the stress continues and resources become depleted, the system reaches the exhaustion stage, where defenses weaken, vulnerability to illness rises, and organ systems may begin to fail from the prolonged effort to cope. This sequence—alarm, resistance, exhaustion—is exactly what Selye described as the three stages. Other term sets do not reflect these physiological phases and sequence, reinforcing why this option is the best fit.