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Returning to school after the summer break can be stressful for some teens, especially when starting high school. While a little stress is normal, persistent feelings of anxiety and stress can interrupt daily life. If left unchecked, these feelings can harm teens’ physical and mental health. Stress is a normal physical and emotional response to an external threat or danger. When faced with a threatening situation, the body releases hormones that activate the “fight or flight” response preparing the body to either confront or evade the threat. Increased heart and breathing rates, high blood pressure, and sweating are common physical responses to stress. Psychological responses include the inability to think clearly and heightened alertness. Everyday challenges or life changes can also trigger an emotional stress response. However, the body reacts to emotional stress the same way it responds to physical threats. More information on the effects of stress on the body can be found in Omnigraphics’ Stress-Related Disorders Sourcebook (available via Infobase’s Health Reference eBook Collection). Stress can be divided into four groups: Acute stress: This is the most common type of short-term stress. Acute stress is experienced in everyday life and can be triggered by mild stressors such as an upcoming project submission,