Mounting bills, a shaky economy and a workload that never seems to end are causing stress for many Americans, but experts believe that today's pressures aren't any worse than those suffered by past generations.

"We always feel the most current times are the most stressful," said James C. Quick, a professor of organizational behavior at the University of Texas at Arlington. "Putting things in perspective can help reduce the anxiety and tension of the moment."

Recent studies show Americans feel more stress. But while the economic downturn, the war against terrorism and corporate cuts are stressful, Americans can look back to seemingly better times to discover that many people were just as stressed.

Before the country's last economic boom ended, a study by Integra Realty Resources Inc. found that American workers were stressed over office overcrowding, increased workloads and unreasonable deadlines. In the November 2000 survey, 10 percent said they had witnessed physical violence in the workplace and 42 percent reported yelling and other verbal abuse in the office.

Like many Americans, Matt Wolynetz, 35, of Wilmington, Del., said he stresses about work, bills and not spending enough time with his family. But the owner of Pup's Hot Dog Carts Inc. said he tends to stress only when he thinks about it.

"It's probably always present at some level, but I'm just not cognizant of it," he said.

"We are always going to have stress in our life - it's how we deal with it that's important," said Marianne Carter, director of the University of Delaware's Employee Wellness Center. "Learning simple techniques to manage stress is vital in maintaining a good quality of life."