Adults and teens alike feel stress. Stress is commonly caused by an external trigger like a frustrated sibling yelling, “You can’t have my new hat!” or a dad insisting a teen end a phone conversation and work on math homework they’ve been avoiding. Feelings of stress are naturally built-in mechanisms for human survival and success. These feelings are the body’s way of warning you when there is a threat and drawing 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 guide your teen to learn to identify and manage their stress -- a vital skill they will use throughout life.