Physiological effects of stress in the long term

When someone suffers from chronic stress or the ongoing trauma from a negative life changing event, it is very physically exhausting. If you imagine your body continuously in a fight or flight response state then it should become obvious that this will quickly drain your physical and emotional resources. It takes so much energy that our bodies simply cannot maintain this level of alertness indefinitely.

Over the years, a number of researchers have examined the relationship between long-term stress and our body’s ability to fend off disease or illnesses. Of interest here is a study by Selye (1956) in which the author made reference to a General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS). Following studies with animals, Selye proposed that there are several phases to our adaptation to long-term stress.

Alarm Phase - Firstly, we experience an alarm phase which represents the typical fight or flight response and involves activation of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. When this occurs adrenaline is released to prepare the body and muscles for action.

Resistance Phase - Under normal circumstances the release of adrenalin would cease as the cause of the stress dissipates and we would use less energy maintaining a state of arousal, but if the stress continues then we experience a resistance phase. During this phase the body tries to go back to normal but it must continue to deal with high level of adrenalin and our physiological alertness. If we are exposed to an additional new stressor during this phase then we produce much less resistance to it because we don’t have the energy to combat it.

Exhaustion Phase - Finally, our energy reserves become so depleted that exhaustion ensues. Although our physiological arousal levels return to normal resting levels there is still a high level of adrenalin in the bloodstream. When someone reaches this phase not only are they less resistant to further stressors but they also have a heightened response to them because of the higher levels of adrenalin in their blood. They might display an abnormally strong stress reaction to what most would regard as a minor stressor.

Following on from this work, many other researchers have investigated the link between long-term stress and physical illness or disease.

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