Bipolar Psychiatrist in New Britain, CT — Right Here, Close to Home

When you've been living with mood swings that don't make sense — highs that feel great until they don't, lows that take weeks to climb out of — it's exhausting. And if you've been wondering whether what you're experiencing is actually bipolar disorder, you deserve a real conversation, not a rushed visit. Elite Health LLC is right here in New Britain, at 1 Liberty Sq, Ste 301. Sindhia Shyras, APRN has been doing this for nine years, and she takes the time to understand the whole arc of what's been going on with your mood — not just the episode that brought you in. You can come in person or connect by telehealth, whatever works for you.

What Mood Stabilizers Actually Do — and What to Expect

If Sindhia recommends a mood stabilizer, it's worth knowing what that really means. Medications like lithium, lamotrigine, and valproate don't just blunt emotions or make you feel flat — that's a common fear, and it's worth naming directly. What they actually do is reduce the amplitude of the cycle. The lows don't go as low. The highs don't go as high — and the ones that were getting you into trouble start to level out. For a lot of people, that feels less like losing something and more like finally being able to breathe. It doesn't happen overnight. Finding the right medication at the right dose takes a few visits and some honest back-and-forth, which is exactly how Sindhia approaches it. She's not handing you a prescription and sending you home.

Lithium, Lamotrigine, Valproate — What's the Difference?

These are the three mood stabilizers that come up most often, and they each have a different profile. Lithium has decades of evidence behind it and is particularly effective at preventing manic episodes — but it does require regular blood monitoring, and that's something Sindhia will walk you through if it's a consideration. Lamotrigine tends to work better on the depressive side of bipolar and has a gentler side-effect profile for many people. Valproate is used for mood stabilization but is generally avoided in women of childbearing age due to specific risks. None of these are one-size-fits-all. Your medical history, your cycle pattern, what's been tried before — all of that shapes the decision. That's the conversation Sindhia wants to have.

Follow-Up Care That Doesn't Leave You Hanging

Starting a new medication and then not hearing from anyone for three months isn't a real treatment plan. Sindhia builds follow-up into care from the beginning — because the first weeks of a mood stabilizer matter, and if something's not working or the side effects are too much, you shouldn't have to wait for a scheduled appointment that's far out to say so. She sees patients at the New Britain office and by telehealth statewide, and she accepts most major insurance plans.

Frequently Asked Questions