General adaptation syndrome

General adaptation syndrome: medical term for physical or psychological stress, the physical response to external psychological stimulus above a certain threshold intensity.

The physical and emotional effects of stress were first recognised by Hans Selye, who was able to separate the physical effects of stress from other physical symptoms suffered by patients through his research.

Stress includes distress, the result of negative events, and eustress, the result of positive events. Despite the type, stress is additive. If your dog dies and you win the lottery, one does not cancel the other, both are stressful events.

Stress can directly and indirectly contribute to general or specific disorders of body and mind.