Which of the following is NOT typical of the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

• A. Depleted physical and emotional resources
• B. Restoration of homeostasis and full recovery
• C. Increased vulnerability to illness and disease
• D. Fatigue and reduced stress tolerance

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) model, which describes the body's response to stress in three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
2. Step 2: Identify the characteristics of the exhaustion stage, which occurs when the body's resources are depleted after prolonged stress, leading to fatigue, reduced stress tolerance, and increased vulnerability to illness.
3. Step 3: Recognize that the exhaustion stage is marked by a breakdown in the body's ability to maintain normal function, not by recovery or restoration.
4. Step 4: Compare each option to the known features of the exhaustion stage: 'Depleted physical and emotional resources,' 'Increased vulnerability to illness and disease,' and 'Fatigue and reduced stress tolerance' align with exhaustion.
5. Step 5: Note that 'Restoration of homeostasis and full recovery' is characteristic of the recovery phase after stress, not the exhaustion stage, making it the correct answer as the one NOT typical of exhaustion.