Everyone experiences anxiety and stress occasionally. But too much stress or stress that continues for a long period (chronic stress) can affect your physical and emotional well-being. We think of stress in terms of emotional stress— stressful situations or events. But physical stress is also a concern. No matter the causes of stress, you may benefit from stress management or stress-reduction techniques like meditation and muscle relaxation. Identifying your stressors can help you avoid stress or relieve stress more quickly when it occurs.