Stress occurs when pressure exceeds a person's ability to cope, potentially endangering their well-being. While stress is a normal state, excessive or prolonged stress can lead to mental or physical illness. Stressors in the workplace include role ambiguity, heavy workloads, inadequate resources, poor working conditions, and issues with management style or job security. To combat stress, one should practice awareness, balance, and control through positive thinking, time management, exercise, relaxation, diet, and limiting alcohol and smoking. Unaddressed, excessive stress can harm health, work performance, relationships, and development.