Stress: Adaptive or Maladaptive?

Stress can be an adaptive response to an event which can impact us both biologically and psychologically. Some may be able to transform the stress in a functional and adaptive way, what Hans Selye (1936) coins as “eustress”.

Moreover, if an individual is unable to call upon coping strategies against stressors, they may endure a sense of distress, which can lead to maladaptation. If reinforced with specific conditioning could lead to multiple psychopathologies.

Physiological and psychological effects of stress can present itself in a myriad of ways depending on the severity and length of stress experienced. For example, immediate physiological short-term stress responses may look like an increased heart rate, whilst instant psychological effects may result in a sense of worry. Adapting to stressful stimulus can enable an individual to implement strategies that help them to “cope” with the stressor i.e., experiencing workplace difficulties or dysfunctional homelife.

However, it is important to consider the effects long-term stress can have on an individual if they are unable to employ coping strategies towards the stimuli contributing to distress. What happens internally and externally if a person ensues chronic stress?

The general adaption syndrome (GAS) theorised by Hans Selye (1936) purports a three-stage process that an individual can experience physiologically in response to stress. The stages being alarm, resistance and exhaustion.

Selye (1936) determined that the more stages one endures increases the chances of chronic disorders forming both physically and mentally. The alarm stage is often referred to as the fight or flight response where the nervous system is activated resulting in physical signs of distress such as increased heart rate and impaired breathing. This is due to the secretion of various hormones i.e., cortisol. At this “alarm” stage some individual’s may have developed coping techniques to self-soothe for instance an individual with anxiety may be aware of the event that can trigger an anxiety attack therefore they apply a grounding technique method which incorporates the senses as a way of regulating heart rate and irrational thoughts.

However, should an individual be unable to resolve the triggering event causing stress their body may resist the attempts at removing the stressor resulting in continued secretion of hormones, irregular homeostasis and exacerbated physical symptoms such as cardiovascular disease.  Inevitably the prolongation of repeated stressors can lead to an allostatic load which can impair the brain networks on a structural level (Maleki et al., 2012)

This can lead to the point of stress also being maladaptive. Whilst the body can protect one against moderate stress, prolongation of stressors can transform acute stress into a chronic experience.  

Maleki, Becerra and Borsook (2012) discuss in their findings of maladaptive brain responses to stress in terms of those who experience migraines. They highlighted that the frequency and severity one suffers to stressors, the expected adaptive responses malfunction leading to an “allostatic load”. This causes the brain to present abnormal responses to stressful scenarios which can cause changes to bodily systems and behaviour for example, migraines in response to ongoing stress.

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