Understanding the Stress Response is a training geared towards developing a better comprehension of how and why we respond to stress in certain ways. The course starts with a description of the varying types of stress that most people experience. Two key components of the brain's stress response system (amygdala and hypothalamus) are introduced and explained in a manner that is easy to understand. In addition to the two parts of the brain, epinephrine and cortisol are discussed, along with their negative side effects when individuals are stressed for too long. The training concludes by offering participants a worksheet to help them recognize the stress that they are currently dealing with and strategies to reduce those stressors. The overall intent is to develop increased empathy for self and others dealing with stress, how stress has a physiological impact on the body and mind, and the importance of reducing stress to better support those with serious mental illness.