KETAMINE THERAPY, PSYCHOTHERAPY & MEDICATION MANAGEMENT FOR TEENS AND ADULTS IN RALEIGH / DURHAM / CHAPEL HILL, NC
EXPERIENCE FREEDOM from BIPOLAR DISORDER
When your emotional world feels like extreme weather
Bipolar: More than just “mood swings”
Have you been suffering with any of the following bipolar symptoms?
Episodes of unusually high energy, creativity, or euphoria that feel wonderful but unsustainable
Periods of deep depression that feel heavy and hopeless
Racing thoughts and rapid speech during energetic phases
Impulsive decisions during high periods that you later regret
Feeling like you're living as two different people at different times
Bipolard disorder shows up differently for different people:
Some experience dramatic swings between severe mania and deep depression
Others have milder hypomanic episodes alternating with depression
Many experience mixed episodes where depression and mania overlap
Some cycle rapidly between states, while others have longer periods of stability
Triggers, patterns, and warning signs vary greatly from person to person
YOU’RE NOT ALONE.
You’re struggling.
You deserve to feel like yourself again - there’s another path forward.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder often gets reduced to simple "mood swings," but it's much more complex than that. It's like experiencing extreme emotional weather—periods of intense energy and elevated mood (mania or hypomania) alternating with deep depression, often with calmer periods in between.
Bipolar isn't about being “dramatic” or unpredictable. It's about experiencing intense emotional states that can feel both exhilarating and exhausting.
The Seductive Danger of Mania
One of the most challenging aspects of bipolar disorder is that manic or hypomanic episodes can feel incredible—like you're finally operating at your full potential. You might feel more creative, confident, and energetic than ever before. Ideas flow freely, you need less sleep, and everything feels possible.
But this intensity often comes with a cost: poor judgment, impulsive spending, damaged relationships, or commitments you can't sustain when the episode ends. The very experiences that feel most like "you at your best" can sometimes cause significant disruption in your life.
The challenge isn't just managing depression—it's learning to navigate the compelling but potentially harmful energy of elevated moods.
When Your Brain Won’t Slow Down
During manic or hypomanic episodes, your mind might race faster than you can keep up with. Thoughts jump from idea to idea, making it hard to focus or finish projects. You might talk rapidly, interrupting others or feeling frustrated when they can't keep pace with your thinking.
Sleep becomes optional—you might feel fully rested on just a few hours, or go days with minimal sleep without feeling tired. This can feel like a superpower until your body eventually crashes or the sleep deprivation starts affecting your judgment.
This mental acceleration isn't something you're choosing to do—it's your brain operating in a different gear that can be both exhilarating and overwhelming.
The Crash That Follows
What goes up often comes down, sometimes dramatically. The energy and confidence of mania can give way to profound depression, leaving you feeling not just low, but devastated by the contrast. You might look back at your manic behavior with embarrassment, regret, or confusion about how you could have acted so differently.
This cycle can feel unpredictable and scary. You might start to distrust your own judgment, wondering which version of yourself is "real" or fearing when the next episode might hit.
The extremes don't define who you truly are—they're different states you move through, and stability is possible with the right support.
The Person Behind the Diagnosis
Perhaps the most important thing to understand about bipolar disorder is that you are not your diagnosis. The creativity, passion, and intensity that often accompany bipolar can be genuine strengths when channeled well. Many people with bipolar are highly empathetic, creative, and capable of deep insight.
The goal isn't to eliminate all emotional intensity, but to find ways to experience your full range of feelings without the extremes that cause distress or disruption.
Bipolar is something you manage, not something that defines your worth or potential. With the right support, you can learn to surf these emotional waves rather than being swept away by them.
You deserve to feel stable and confident in who you are, while still honoring the depth and richness of your emotional experience.
How We Help
Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
Ketamine therapy for bipolar disorderoffers rapid relief by helping your brain form new neural connections. Many clients describe feeling like they can "breathe again" or access parts of themselves that bipolar disorder had made unreachable—often within days rather than months. This isn't about eliminating difficult emotions; it's about reclaiming your capacity to feel, connect, and engage with life.
Traditional Therapy
Sometimes the gentle, steady work of talk therapy is exactly what you need to get relief from bipolar disorder. We offer evidence-based approaches in a warm, supportive environment where you can explore patterns, build coping skills, and create lasting change at your own pace.
Medication Management
When thoughtfully chosen and carefully monitored, medication for bipolar disorder can be one of the most powerful tools for healing. We take time to understand your unique experience and work collaboratively to find what supports your wellness goals.
You can learn to experience the full spectrum of human emotion while maintaining the stability and peace of mind you deserve.
You Might Benefit From Our Approach If:
You experience periods of unusually high energy followed by crashes into depression
Your mood episodes feel unpredictable and disruptive to your life and relationships
You struggle with impulsive decisions during energetic periods that you later regret
Sleep patterns swing from needing very little to sleeping too much
You feel like you're living as different versions of yourself at different times
Traditional mood stabilizers haven't provided the stability you're seeking
You're ready for care that honors both your struggles and your strengths
What Healing Can Look Like
Bipolar doesn't have to control your story. With the right support, you can:
Recognize early warning signs and develop strategies to manage mood episodes
Experience emotional intensity without being overwhelmed by extremes
Make decisions from a stable place rather than during mood episodes
Maintain consistent relationships and commitments over time
Sleep regularly and feel energized without the crash that follows
Channel your creativity and passion in sustainable, fulfilling ways
Feel confident in your own judgment and sense of self
About Canto Integrative Psychiatry’s Owner & your Medical Provider
Welcome, I’m Sarah.
Welcome to Canto Integrative Psychiatry. If you've found your way here, you're likely looking for something different—mental health care that feels genuine, accessible, and deeply supportive. I’ve created this practice because I believe healing happens best in spaces that feel safe, warm, and authentically human.
Whether you're struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, or simply feeling stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, we're here to walk alongside you. Our approach combines evidence-based treatments like ketamine-assisted psychotherapy with the kind of compassionate, individualized care that honors your unique story and goals. You won't get lost in phone trees or feel rushed through appointments—instead, you'll find providers who respond promptly, take time to truly understand your experience, and surround you with the area's most trusted professionals when additional support is needed..