SIMPLIFYING STRESS • 293The General Adaptation Syndrome
Our knowledge about stress and adrenal function began in the
early 1900s, when famous stress-research pioneer Hans Selye
began to piece together the common triad of signs resulting
from excess adrenal stress. They include adrenal-gland
enlargement, depressed immunity and intestinal dysfunction.
Selye eventually showed how the adrenals react when con-
fronted with excess stress. This General Adaptation Syndrome
has three distinct stages.
Stage 1: The first stage begins with the alarm reaction, in which
there is an increase in adrenal hormone production. This is an
attempt by the adrenals to battle the increased stress. If it is suc-
cessful, adrenal function returns to normal. During this stage, a
variety of mild symptoms may occur: spotty tiredness during
the day, mild allergies or even some nagging back, knee or foot
pain. If, over time, the adrenals fail to meet the needs of the
body to combat the stress, they enter the second stage, called
the resistance stage.
Stage 2:During this period, the adrenal glands themselves get
larger through a process called hypertrophy. Since the
increased hormone production of the first stage couldn’t count-
er the stress, the glands enlarge in an attempt make even more
cortisol to do the same. During this stage, more advanced
symptoms may occur, including fatigue, insomnia and more
serious back, knee or foot pain. Most people with stress prob-
lems are stuck in this stage. But if the stress persists and is still
not controlled, the adrenals eventually can enter the third
stage, called exhaustion.
Stage 3:If a person enters this stage he or she is exhausted. The
adrenal glands are unable to adapt to stress and produce ade-
quate levels of hormones, including cortisol. The person is usu-
ally seriously ill, physically, chemically or mentally.