Which is the second stage of the GAS?

• A. Alarm stage
• B. Resistance stage
• C. Exhaustion stage
• D. Stress

Answer: (B)

The second stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome is the resistance stage, the body's adaptive response to ongoing stress after the initial alarm reaction. Once the threat triggers the fight-or-flight response, the body mobilizes resources and shifts into a mode focused on coping and maintaining performance. Hormonal activity keeps remaining alert and able to handle stress, and physiological systems are tuned to resist the adverse effects of the stressor, allowing functioning to continue even as the stress persists. You might feel more capable in the moment, but this stage is taxing—the body's resources are being used to counter the ongoing threat. If stress continues, those resources eventually wear down, leading toward exhaustion. The alarm stage is the initial reaction, and exhaustion is the eventual result after prolonged resistance; “stress” describes the overall condition, not a specific stage.