The Pacific Heart

Media

Alex Garland’s "Civil War": E Pluribus Nihil?

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on April 29, 2024

Personal Perspective: Alex Garland's film "Civil War" imagines one vision of our country torn apart by massive violence.

Personal Perspective: Alex Garland's film "Civil War" imagines one vision of our country torn apart by massive violence.

Bias

The New Film “Origin” Forces an Acknowledgement of Caste

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on April 12, 2024

Personal Perspective: Isabel Wilkerson's "Caste" was a conversation-starter in 2020. A new film brings this uncomfortable book to life.

Personal Perspective: Isabel Wilkerson's "Caste" was a conversation-starter in 2020. A new film brings this uncomfortable book to life.

Freudian Psychology

"Killers of the Flower Moon," Civilization, and Discontents

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on February 29, 2024

Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" has garnered 10 Oscar nominations. What does it tell us about the dangers of the human psyche?

Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" has garnered 10 Oscar nominations. What does it tell us about the dangers of the human psyche?

Relationships

Love Your Enemies? These 7 Tips Could Help

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on February 15, 2024

Love helps us heal our own suffering, but loving our enemies is a tall order. How might we do it? Should we even try?

Love helps us heal our own suffering, but loving our enemies is a tall order. How might we do it? Should we even try?

Freudian Psychology

“Freud’s Last Session": Theory, Suffering, and Humanity

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on January 12, 2024

Personal Perspective: "Freud's Last Session" imagines Freud and C.S. Lewis debating the existence of God. But I question analytic "truth" and technique.

Personal Perspective: "Freud's Last Session" imagines Freud and C.S. Lewis debating the existence of God. But I question analytic "truth" and technique.

Race and Ethnicity

“American Fiction” Tilts at Racism, Being, and Belonging

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on December 24, 2023

Personal Perspective: The film "American Fiction" lets us reflect on the psychologies of racism, the sensibilities of the creative industries, and making a better world.

Personal Perspective: The film "American Fiction" lets us reflect on the psychologies of racism, the sensibilities of the creative industries, and making a better world.

Trauma

The Abuser-Victim Dyad: Central to Understanding Our Times

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on December 14, 2023

Personal Perspective: The Israel-Gaza-Hamas conflict has inflamed tensions around the world because it goes to the heart of our humanity.

Personal Perspective: The Israel-Gaza-Hamas conflict has inflamed tensions around the world because it goes to the heart of our humanity.

Trauma

Can We Downregulate the "United States of Amygdalae?"

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on November 14, 2023

Events in Israel and Gaza are a globally felt collective trauma, with distant people concerned not only for those in Israel and Gaza but also for their safety at home.

Events in Israel and Gaza are a globally felt collective trauma, with distant people concerned not only for those in Israel and Gaza but also for their safety at home.

Psychoanalysis

Psychotherapy, Psychoanalysis, and Society in a World Held Hostage

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 24, 2023

Our attention is being held hostage by what's happening in Israel and Gaza. Our identities, affects, and narratives are being captured. What's our route to liberation?

Our attention is being held hostage by what's happening in Israel and Gaza. Our identities, affects, and narratives are being captured. What's our route to liberation?

Trauma

Keeping a Cool Head and Warm Heart During a Crisis

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 17, 2023

A Personal Perspective: The conflict in Israel and Gaza has caused great distress and even violence in the U.S. How might we keep cool heads and warm hearts and be compassionate?

A Personal Perspective: The conflict in Israel and Gaza has caused great distress and even violence in the U.S. How might we keep cool heads and warm hearts and be compassionate?

Trauma

Abusive Power and Megalomania Perpetuate Trauma

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 15, 2023

Megalomanic and dominating drives drove colonization and the founding of the nation, and persist as overt and unconscious forces. We must name and understand these forces.

Megalomanic and dominating drives drove colonization and the founding of the nation, and persist as overt and unconscious forces. We must name and understand these forces.

Trauma

Creating Transitional Spaces for Intergenerational Trauma

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 5, 2023

Trauma creates disconnection and conflict. How do we create belonging? Lessons from the Japanese American experience.

Trauma creates disconnection and conflict. How do we create belonging? Lessons from the Japanese American experience.

Trauma

Cultivating Sense of Self to Cope With Trauma and Life

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 3, 2023

We talk a lot about "sense of self" in psychology and psychiatry. We think of it as a sense of identity or personal traits. But going deeper can help to heal trauma.

We talk a lot about "sense of self" in psychology and psychiatry. We think of it as a sense of identity or personal traits. But going deeper can help to heal trauma.

Trauma

Dr. Satsuki Ina on Japanese American Trauma and Healing

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on September 26, 2023

Psychologist Satsuki Ina discusses trauma, the specific trauma of Japanese American incarceration and aftermath, and healing circles.

Psychologist Satsuki Ina discusses trauma, the specific trauma of Japanese American incarceration and aftermath, and healing circles.

Relationships

What Do We Feel When We Feel Close? The Dim Sum Dialogues

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on September 19, 2023

What emotions do we feel when we're close to others? And how might feeling close help us with our difficult emotions, such as anger?

What emotions do we feel when we're close to others? And how might feeling close help us with our difficult emotions, such as anger?

Motivation

3 Top Goals for High School, College Admissions, and Life

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on September 7, 2023

The documentary “Try Harder!” puts a spotlight on the college admissions journey for seniors at an elite San Francisco public high school.

The documentary “Try Harder!” puts a spotlight on the college admissions journey for seniors at an elite San Francisco public high school.

Leadership

How to Protect Yourself From Demagogues and Disinformation

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on August 24, 2023

Personal Perspective: Demagogues and megalomaniacs can rise in an environment of intense perceived threats and polarization. What questions should we ask to protect ourselves?

Personal Perspective: Demagogues and megalomaniacs can rise in an environment of intense perceived threats and polarization. What questions should we ask to protect ourselves?

Burnout

11 Tools to Cope With Burnout and Overwhelm

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on June 6, 2023

Amidst the pandemic and cultural stress, burnout is on the rise. Here are tools, including prompts for institutional change, to help cope.

Amidst the pandemic and cultural stress, burnout is on the rise. Here are tools, including prompts for institutional change, to help cope.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence: Existential Threat and Litmus Test

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on May 16, 2023

Have the aliens landed? Has humanity had a baby? A.I. is here, and experts are raising red flags. What exactly are we facing?

Have the aliens landed? Has humanity had a baby? A.I. is here, and experts are raising red flags. What exactly are we facing?

Relationships

Netflix’s "Beef" Spotlights Squalor of Our Hidden Inner Life

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on April 10, 2023

Netflix's series "Beef" premiered on April 6, 2023, to critical acclaim. It reveals a wounded inner life and breaks through racist tropes.

Netflix's series "Beef" premiered on April 6, 2023, to critical acclaim. It reveals a wounded inner life and breaks through racist tropes.