According to selye, some people may develop illnesses such as organ damage, depression, anxiety, or a weakened immune system during the stage of the general adaptation syndrome.

According to Selye, some people may develop illnesses such as organ damage, depression, anxiety or weakened immune system during the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome to stress, reached by an organism that has failed to adapt to a stressor, characterized by physical and/or mental disorder or disease.