Both teens and adults experience stress. Stress is generally caused by an external trigger like a frustrated sibling shouting, “You can’t wear my new shirt!” or a parent or those in a parenting role insisting a teen come home from a friend’s house and work on chores they’ve been avoiding. Feelings of stress are naturally built-in mechanisms for human thriving and survival. These feelings are your body’s way of warning you about risk and bringing your attention to problems that must be resolved. 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 someone in a parenting role, you can support your teen in learning to identify and manage their stress- an essential skill they will use for a lifetime.