In 1934, a young assistant at McGill University's
Biochemistry Department named Hans Selye embarked on what he hoped would be a
revolutionary search for a new hormone. At just 28 years old, his aspirations
were high. When he injected rats with ovarian extracts and noticed a variety of
physical symptoms, he initially believed he had made a breakthrough. However,
his excitement faded when he observed similar symptoms after injecting other
unrelated organ extracts. These results weren’t tied to any specific hormone.
They pointed instead to a broader biological phenomenon.
This unexpected discovery triggered a memory from his early
days as a second-year medical student at the University of Prague—patients
often presented with vague, general symptoms that couldn’t be traced back to a
clear illness or singular cause. These early observations laid the foundation
for what would become a transformative concept in modern medicine.
The Birth of the Stress Concept:
Eustress vs. Distress
By 1936, Hans Selye, a Hungarian-born Canadian
endocrinologist, published his first influential paper outlining the General
Adaptation Syndrome (GAS). In this work, he introduced a word that would
later reshape medicine, psychology, and everyday language: stress.
Although widely used today, Selye found “stress” difficult
to define precisely. He described it as the body’s nonspecific response to
any demand, whether that demand came from something enjoyable or
unpleasant. For example, stress could come from losing a job—or from playing an
intense tennis match with a close friend.
Selye recognized that not all stress is harmful. He coined
two important terms:
- Eustress
– Positive, motivating stress that enhances performance.
- Distress
– Negative, overwhelming stress that harms the body and mind.
The Three Phases of Stress Response:
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome breaks the stress
response into three distinct stages:
1. Alarm Phase
This is the body’s immediate reaction to a perceived threat.
The “fight or flight” response is triggered. The adrenal glands release cortisol
and adrenaline, preparing the body for action.
2. Resistance Phase
If the stress continues, the body enters a state of
resistance. It attempts to stabilize and return to equilibrium, known as homeostasis.
This stage can last a while—depending on the stressor and the body’s ability to
cope.
3. Exhaustion Phase
When the stress persists beyond the body's coping capacity,
it moves into exhaustion. Resources become depleted. This stage can lead to
serious health issues, such as:
- High
blood pressure
- Heart
disease
- Depression
- Digestive
problems like ulcers
Rethinking Stress: A Balanced
Perspective
While many people associate stress with negative health
outcomes, Selye made it clear that stress itself isn’t the enemy. In
fact, some level of stress is vital for growth, motivation, and resilience. The
goal isn’t to eliminate stress entirely, but rather to understand and manage
it wisely.
Key Insights That Still Matter Today
- Not
all stress is harmful: Eustress can boost energy,
performance, and focus.
- Chronic
stress is dangerous: When unmanaged, it can break
down the body’s defenses.
- Awareness
is key: Recognizing the symptoms and
stages of stress can help prevent burnout.
- Selye’s
legacy lives on: His work laid the foundation for
stress management techniques used in medicine, psychology, and personal
wellness today.
Let Hans Selye’s research serve as a reminder: how we
perceive and respond to life’s challenges plays a bigger role in our health
than we often realize.
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| This terrified face, based on a photograph taken by the eminent French neurologist Duchenne de Boulogne (1806–1875), appeared in Charles Darwin’s 1872 book The Expressions of Emotions in Animals. |
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