Alarm Phase

Definition

The alarm phase is the initial stage in the body's response to stress, characterized by a burst of energy provided by adrenaline and other hormones.

Analogy

Think of the alarm phase like your phone's alarm going off in the morning. It jolts you awake, gets your heart racing, and prepares you for action (whether that's jumping out of bed or hitting snooze).

Related terms

Fight-or-Flight Response: This is an automatic physiological reaction to an event perceived as stressful or frightening. The perception of threat activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers an acute stress response that prepares the body to fight or flee.

Adrenaline: A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in conditions of stress, increasing rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism and preparing muscles for exertion.

Stressor: Any physical or psychological event or condition that produces physical and emotional reactions.