Stress Responses

• Fight or Flight Response / Acute Stress Response

  • In the 1920’s, Walter Cannon introduced the fight or flight response or the acute stress response.
  • This kind of stress response involves the occurrence of physiological reactions when one is under stress or pressure
• General Adaptation Syndrome

  • by Dr. Hans Selye

  1. Alarm phase – The theory concurs that the body naturally reacts to stress by activating its fight or flight response system.
  2. Resistance stage – This response stage involves the secretion of hormones for long term protection.
  3. Exhaustion stage – The stress has been lingering at this phase.
• Relaxation Response

  • by Dr. Herbert Benson
  • The response is defined as your personal ability to encourage your body to release chemicals and brain signals that make your muscles and organs slow down and increase blood flow to the brain.