Typical physiological responses to stress are described in a 3-stage process called General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS). The 3 stages are alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.Alarm is our initial reaction to a stressful event. We often think of it as the fight, flight, freeze state of the symphathetic nervous system. The Resistance phase occurs if we remain on high alert from the Alarm phase for an extended period. Signs we have entered this phase include frustration, irritability, and poor concentration. If the stress is prolonged or chronic, we may enter the Exhaustion phase which includes feelings of anxiety, burn out, depression, and fatigue.