Continuing on with that analogy, if we were to ride the rollercoaster for hours it may not feel scary after a couple of circuits, in other words we will have become used to the phenomena that originally terrified us.If we have an examination or a test, the anticipatory reaction of the body might produce chemicals that stimulate us, keep us in a heightened state, able to concentrate and recall facts important for our success, so called eu stress(Selye, 1975) , which is good stress that motivates us. As already mentioned, we all have different reactions to circumstances that are presented to us. Unlike animals, humans can activate a stress response through thoughts. These thoughts may not be justified(anticipatory) by any supporting evidence that we will come to harm, for example, arise in mortgage interest rates. What is probably most surprising is that what happens after this release is highly dependent on factors such as social support, personality and personal resilience. The neural circuitry that effects our behaviour as a consequence of stress(Figure 3.1) is a fascinating area of study, and we will merely scratch the surface here. What we hope, however, is that you can see the benefits for employees if they have a better understanding of at least how some of these interact, and the resultant catastrophe if not managed well. Stress affects the immune system, our hormones, circulatory system, energy levels, growth, reproduction and life expectancy-just about everything. In the workplace it can impact significantly on productivity, performance and happiness (subjective wellbeing) .To cope physiologically and psychologically with stress, good levels of personal resilience are required, and this is what we will explore further now.