explain the role of the Sympathetic nervous system in stage 3 of GAS
hey can anyone help me with this
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Stage 3 of the GAS is exhaustion. Signs of alarm reaction may reappear, but the effects of the stressor can no longer be dealt with. The body's resources are severely depleted, and the individual is more vulnerable to physical and mental disorders. My understanding of the role of the sympathetic nervous system in exhaustion is that it is very minimal. This is because by this time, the body has already gone through the resistance stage, where HPA axis activation would have occurred. Therefore, the sympathetic nervous system may still be dominant and trying to reduce the effects of the stressor along with the effects of cortisol, however its role in stimulating the secretion of adrenalin and noradrenalin is almost useless as at this stage, as things like increased heartrate and dilated pupils aren't needed by this stage. These two signs are examples of the 'signs of alarm reaction that may reappear', as I stated before. The body is basically unable to deal with the stressor by this stage, and the role of the sympathetic nervous system is minimal as it does not provide a meaningful way to resist the effects of the stressor and only brings back some signs of alarm reaction. The body is severely weakened and depleted of physiological resources anyway, so the physiological coping resources the body has aren't that useful anymore, by this time.
Keep in mind this is just my understanding, please do correct me if I'm wrong