In times of extreme stress, don’t hesitate to reach out to your support system — or to let those around you know what’s happening. During what turned out to be my mother’s final illness, I sent frequent group emails to family and close friends to keep them up to date on her condition and circumstances. Writing these emails helped me to sort out my thoughts and reduce my overall stress level. People who care about you want to know how things are going, and it will help you to talk about it.