The General Adaptation Syndrome is often illustrated with a graph that plots stress resistance against time. The horizontal x-axis represents the duration of exposure to a stressor, while the vertical y-axis represents the level of stress resistance. The curve on the graph demonstrates the progression through the three stages: an initial dip during the alarm reaction, a sustained high level during resistance, and a final decline into exhaustion, showing that prolonged stress eventually depletes the body's ability to cope.