RALEIGH, NC  — As people across our state and country digest the recent election results, many may be feeling a range of emotions - from joy to stress to anxiety or celebration.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than 70% of Americans faced election anxiety this year.

Mental health experts said it's important to feel all of those feelings, but it's also critical to take a step back and focus on managing those emotions. 

Doctor Colleen Hamilton has been helping people cope with life events for 16 years as a psychologist at Lapage Associates Psychiatric Services.

“Everyone has been bombarded with political ads and a lot of talk about what’s going to happen in the future, so everyone has been in a heightened stress state for the past several months,” Hamilton said.

In addition to impacting mood, Hamilton said stress can also lead a number of medical conditions.

“You might notice some digestive issues with stress, tension, headaches - it impacts across our life activities,” Hamilton said. 

If you experienced stress this election season, she suggests prioritizing caring for your mental health by finding healthy ways to release anxiety. 

“At this point, it is about getting back to your day-to-day life,” she said. “Get some exercise. Make sure that you are eating well, if you’re still experiencing stress related to the election, it’s time to disconnect from media take a break from it."

And whether the candidate you voted for won or lost, Hamilton said to remember the big picture. 

“Keep in mind you are still the same person you were 24 hours ago. You were gonna be the same person tomorrow, being intentional in your own life is what you have control over and not hyper focusing on things you do not have control over,” Hamilton said.

Mental health services and support are also available through the Department of Health and Human Services.