Which statement correctly identifies the second stage of the stress response?

Which statement correctly identifies the second stage of the stress response?

• A. Alarm stage
• B. Reaction and resistance
• C. Exhaustion
• D. Recovery

Answer: (B)

After the initial alarm reaction prepares the body to flee or fight, the second stage is resistance, when the body works to cope with the ongoing stress. In this phase, the stress response stays active but shifts toward adaptation: hormones like cortisol remain elevated, energy production stays boosted, and physiological systems are tuned to help you maintain performance despite the continued demand. The goal is to restore balance under sustained pressure by mobilizing and prioritizing bodily resources. If the stressor continues and resources become depleted, the body moves into exhaustion, where defenses weaken and illness risk rises. Recovery can occur once the stress ends, but it isn’t one of the formal stages in this model.

After the initial alarm reaction prepares the body to flee or fight, the second stage is resistance, when the body works to cope with the ongoing stress. In this phase, the stress response stays active but shifts toward adaptation: hormones like cortisol remain elevated, energy production stays boosted, and physiological systems are tuned to help you maintain performance despite the continued demand. The goal is to restore balance under sustained pressure by mobilizing and prioritizing bodily resources. If the stressor continues and resources become depleted, the body moves into exhaustion, where defenses weaken and illness risk rises. Recovery can occur once the stress ends, but it isn’t one of the formal stages in this model.