adaptation energy

Some scientists believe that each person has a finite amount of energy, called adaptation energy, to cope with different types of stress. Energy expended to cope with one type of stress (such as moving house) results in less being available for other stresses (such as exercise). When adaptation energy is low, a person is more likely to suffer from stress-related diseases and conditions known as burn out and run down.

A hypothetical measure of an individual's capacity to resist stress. Each person is believed to have a finite amount of adaptation energy, which is used to cope with different types of stress. Energy expended to cope with one type of stress, such as staying up late, results in less being available for other stresses, such as training. When adaptation energy is low, a person is more likely to suffer from stress-related diseases and conditions known as burnout and rundown