Experiencing stress is part of life for adults and teens. Stress is often caused by an external trigger like an angry sibling shouting, “It’s your turn to take out the trash!” or a mom insisting a teen needs to postpone hanging out with a friend to work on a college application they have been avoiding. Feelings of stress are naturally built-in mechanisms for human survival and success. These feelings are the body’s way of sending a warning when there is a threat and pointing your attention to problems that need to be addressed. A stressor can be one-time or ongoing.  On the other hand, anxiety is the body’s reaction to stress and can occur even if there is no current threat. While all humans experience some anxiety, when worries and fears become persistent, they can begin to interfere with everyday life and impact your teen’s health.  As a parent or those in a parenting role, you can assist your teen in learning to identify and manage stress- a critical skill they will use for a lifetime.