Abstract
Small amounts of stress (emotional strain) are beneficial and healthy and help individuals to perform better, whether at work, in relationships, or in physical activities. Excess stress can lead to both mental and physical illness. Individuals perceive stress differently: the same demands asked of one person may cause great stress and in another hardly any. As young adults make their way through new experiences in work and relationships, they experience stress and have to learn how to navigate through it effectively. Some persons who experience high levels of stress will go on to develop persistent anxiety symptoms. Other individuals may have anxiety that does not seem related to external stressors. Sometimes a prominent familial component is present. It is often unclear whether this is a genetic predisposition or learned behavior.