Final answer:
Mike is likely experiencing the resistance phase of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), where his body is adapting to the continuous work stress by staying alert and keeping his immune system functional.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mike has been working continuously for two months on a presentation and is noticing he often feels very tired, despite not catching the flu that is spreading around his campus. It is likely that Mike is experiencing the resistance phase of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), which is a three-phase response to stress that was developed by Hans Selye.
The GAS includes the alarm phase, the resistance phase, and the exhaustion phase. In the resistance phase, the body attempts to adapt to the stressor. Mike's continuous work on his presentation is the stressor, and his tiredness is a sign that his body is trying to adapt while maintaining a heightened state of awareness to fight off stress.
His ability to avoid the flu may also indicate that his body's stress response is still effectively managing to keep his immune system functioning adequately, which is typical for this phase. If the stress continues without adequate recovery, Mike could potentially move into the exhaustion phase, during which the body's ability to resist stress is depleted, leading to possible burnout or illness.