Aim: How does stress affect our lives? (continued)

Notes: Homeostasis: balance.
When stress occurs, our body and mind are thrown out of homeostasis, and our body works to restore it. This is called the stress response, or general adaptation syndrome.

Notes- Stage 1: Alarm Stage: Fight or Flight- body’s immediate response to stress: heart and breathing rate increase, sweating, adrenaline rush, lump in throat (esophagus widens), pale skin, butterflies in stomach (decrease in blood flow to digestive system and surface of skin to increase blood flow to muscles). Headaches (increase in blood flow to brain so person may be more alert, pupils dilate).

Stage 2: Resistance Stage: Body attempts to return to normal (homeostasis- internal balance). Body function returns to normal.

Stage 3: Exhaustion Stage: Delayed stress prevents a return to homeostasis, body continues to function at elevated state, lowered resistance leads to illness, or in severe cases, organ failure and possible death

The third stage of the stress response is when the body becomes so taxed from consistent stress the body becomes physically ill. A person may also become emotionally tired, and may make rash or impulsive decisions that may result in further stress.