Which of the following is an example of the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

• A. A person feels a surge of energy and heightened alertness immediately after encountering a stressful event.
• B. A person initially reacts to a threat with increased heart rate and rapid breathing.
• C. A person who has been under chronic stress begins to experience frequent illnesses and extreme fatigue.
• D. A person successfully adapts to ongoing stress and maintains normal functioning.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), which describes the body's short-term and long-term reactions to stress in three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
2. Identify the alarm stage as the initial reaction to stress, characterized by a surge of energy and heightened alertness, such as increased heart rate and rapid breathing.
3. Recognize the resistance stage as the body's attempt to adapt to ongoing stress, where normal functioning is maintained despite the stressor.
4. Define the exhaustion stage as the point where the body's resources are depleted after prolonged stress, leading to symptoms like frequent illnesses and extreme fatigue.
5. Match the example describing frequent illnesses and extreme fatigue after chronic stress to the exhaustion stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome.