General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

• General Adaptation Syndrome occurs in 3 stages.

  • The alarm stage

  • The resistance stage

  • The exhaustion stage

The Alarm Stage

• The initial reaction to stress | The fight-flight response.

• Associated with acute stress.

  • Scenario:

    • You see an animal looking angry at you.

    • You get ready to be attacked.

    • Your body actively reacts to the emergency (This is the appropriate & healthy response.)

    • The sympathetic nervous system comes to play.

The Resistance Stage

• Associated with chronic stress.

• If chronic stress continues for extended periods of time, it will start to take a toll on the body and lead to the development of psychosomatic disorders.

  • Examples of chronic stress:

    • Demands of school or job, abusive relationships, being in a war zone, or ongoing racism or discrimination.

The Exhaustion Stage

• The result of long-term continuous stress that leads to a breakdown in internal organs and a compromisation of the immune system.

The Workhorses/Backbones of the Stress Response

• Adrenaline (epinephrine.)

• Glucocorticoids.

  • A less-known hormone that comes out of the adrenal gland along with adrenaline.

  • Both adrenaline and glucocorticoids are critical for survival.

• Telomerase

  • An enzyme that can repair damaged chromosomes.

• Effects of stress can do some of the following:

  • Cause weight gain.

  • Unravel chromosomes.

  • Kill brain cells.

The Autonomic Nervous System

• The sympathetic nervous system (Fight or Flight):

  • Stimulates adrenals to release hormones, specifically cortisol.

• Parasympathetic nervous system (Relaxation):

  • Reduces activity, conserves and restores energy.

• Sympathetic system

  • Prepares the body for fight or flight

  • Increases blood pressure & heart rate

  • Diverts blood to the brain as well as skeletal muscles

  • Temporarily shuts down/halts the use of unnecessary processes.

  • Increases both respiration and perspiration.

  • Releases the stress hormones adrenaline, glucocorticoids, and cortisol.

  • Realseses glucose

  • Diolates pupils

  • trigger urination & defecation

  • Piloerection: hair stands up.

• Parasympathetic system

  • Reduces activity and conserves as well as restores energy.

  • Returns the body to normal or homeostasis.

  • Pupils constrict

  • Processes that were shut down by the sympathetic system are now back on and in motion.

Psychosomatic Disorders

• Physical damage that was brought on either completely or was exacerbated by stress.

• Is not imaginary and is very much real.

• Caused by chronic stress, anxiety, and worry.

A List of Psychosomatic Disorders

• Coronary heart disease: Heart attacks/ strokes.

• Allergies and asthma.

• Headaches: tension or migraines, as well as backaches.

• Stomach problems: Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

• Skin disorders: acne, psoriasis.

• Ulcers: (Although caused by bacteria, can be exacerbated by stress.)

• Increased susceptibility to colds and the flu.

• The amount of control we perceive as having, baboons who have more control over their lives do better than baboons with less control; think about it.

Factors in the Causation of Psychosomatic Disorders

• The weakest link, Genetic predisposition:

  • Stress targets particular organs or bodily systems for weakening, and already having a predisposition for the disorder only allows stress to make it worse.

The Type A Personality

• Developed by Friedman.

• The two main characteristics include the following:

  • A competitive nature.

  • Free-floating hostility.

Cortisol as a Stress Hormone

• Is the most important Glucocorticoid.

• Causing damage due to things like chronic stress, which include:

  • Decreased hippocampal volume.

  • Memory issues.

Psychoneuroimmunology

• The study of interactions between the nervous system and the immune system.

• Chronic stress leads to the suppression of the immune system.

• Studies have found that white blood cells decrease with chronic stress.

• The polygraph (Lie Detector):

  • The polygraph does not measure lies but physiological responses, which include the following:

    • Perspiration.

    • Respiration.

    • Heart rate/blood pressure.

  • The downfall of a polygraph is that there are many factors that can affect physiological responses besides a lie.