SEATTLE — Following Tuesday’s election night, local houses of worship are opening their doors to people dealing with election stress.

Epiphany Parish in Seattle held a service Wednesday night where members could come together in times of need.

“When we planned this, we didn’t know who would win the election, but we knew either way it would cause some concern in our community,” said Doyt Conn, Rector of Epiphany Seattle. It is never the last thing; “If you think it’s a bad thing, remember it’s not the last thing.”

After a high-stakes election night, millions of Americans may be experiencing mixed emotions that they’re not sure how to cope with.

Experts suggest that staying informed is important, but it’s okay to take a break from the constant flow of information.

• Mindfulness and meditation can also help reduce election-related stress. Here are a few suggested tips:
• Take a deep breath and count backwards from 10.
• Think with your five senses; What am I seeing right now? What do I hear? What am I touching? What taste do I have? So what do I smell?
• Take a moment to focus on your breathing. If stressful thoughts or even random thoughts come to your mind, don’t fight them. Let them exist and then imagine placing them on a cloud and watching them fly away.

“I came here because I am deeply saddened by the outcome. I am sad and fearful for our future and I wanted to come together with others in brotherhood,” said Michael Rawding. “It’s a process, but I really appreciate the spirit of music and prayer. Right now I’m trying to find a path forward for myself as an individual and within the community and the country.”