Exhaustion Stage

The exhaustion stage is the third and final stage of the fight-or-flight response (FFR) — according to the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) theory of FFR — in which the functions of the body’s systems are faced with a stressor. See also Alarm and Resistance Stages. If the stressful event continues to persist, the body enters the exhaustion stage and starts to break down. Symptoms of this stage include burnout, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and reduced stress tolerance. As chronic stress persists, the body’s immune system continues to weaken, due to the suppressive effects of stress hormones on cells of the immune system. The exhaustion stage is a casualty of modern life. The body overreacts to stressors that are not life-threatening but long-term: work pressures, family difficulties, money problems.