Final answer:
Stress is a person's adaptive response to a stimulus that places excessive psychological or physical demands on him or her. It is the body's physiological and psychological reaction to a challenging or threatening situation. The general adaptation syndrome describes the different stages the body goes through when faced with stress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stress is a person's adaptive response to a stimulus that places excessive psychological or physical demands on him or her. It is the body's physiological and psychological reaction to a challenging or threatening situation. When faced with stress, the body goes through a series of physiological reactions known as the general adaptation syndrome, which includes the alarm reaction, the stage of resistance, and the stage of exhaustion.