The Pacific Heart

Humor

7 Neurological and Social Effects of Put-Down Humor and Hate

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 31, 2024

Recent remarks about Puerto Rico at a political rally have stirred a prominent backlash. What are the neurological and social effects of punch-down humor and hate?

Emotions

Beethoven’s Ninth and the Ode to Joy: Symphony and Psyche

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

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, including the "Ode to Joy," is one of the most popular works of all time. Here's what it continues to tell us, and why it is especially relevant now.

Trauma

The Middle East: Unfathomable Traumas, Cavernous Fears

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 9, 2024

Personal Perspective: Beneath the facts of the current conflict run unresolved emotions. Naming them helps us heal, grow, and work towards bringing peace and resolution.

Leadership

Leadership and Relationships Have This Single-Point Failure

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on October 8, 2024

There is one major red flag in leadership and human relationships, and we have not yet overcome it. In fact, it's become normalized as a quality of "genius" level disruption.

Politics

Voting's Relationship to Mental Health

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on September 28, 2024

Voting is a powerful pathway to register our connection with others, in our dissatisfactions, pragmatic goals, and vision for a better future. It can help reduce collective bias.

Wisdom

The 13 "Disses" of Abusive Power, and the Wisdom to Cope

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on August 30, 2024

Abusive power tries to negate others with these 13 "disses," such as distortion and distress. How do we cultivate the wisdom to combat the 13 disses?

Parental Alienation

Society Keeps the Score: Alienation, Cutoffs and Belonging

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on August 21, 2024

A controversial New York Times article highlighted the work of Patrick Teahan promoting no-contact cutoffs with family in cases of trauma. But there's more to the story.

Trauma

Intergenerational Trauma and Ancestral Pattern Shifting

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on August 19, 2024

A Bay Area art collective utilizes communal process, reflection, and found objects to process and heal trauma.

Dissociation

"Didi": Insecurity, Dissociation, Cringe, and Sense of Self

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on August 5, 2024

Sean Wang's debut feature "Didi" provides a layered look at Asian American boyhood and interiority, complete with cringe and dissociation. It's a great companion to "Inside Out 2."

Anxiety

Biden Steps Down: Ageism, Anxiety, Antagonism, and Grace

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on July 22, 2024

A Personal Perspective: In a stunning development, Joe Biden just stepped down from his presidential campaign. What might his choice reveal about our society and collective psyche?

Bias

How Cultural, Cognitive, and Narrative Biases Affect Us

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on July 17, 2024

Naming media biases, and our own, can help us maintain cool heads and warm hearts as we absorb the news.

Mindfulness

Political Rally Shooting: Keeping Cool Heads and Warm Hearts

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on July 14, 2024

How to keep balanced and righting our course.

Leadership

Executive Function: Does America Have a Judgment Problem?

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

Personal Perspective: What do we want in a leader? And what do we want in a process that chooses leaders?

Child Development

Pixar’s Inside Out 2: Sense of Self, Emotions, and Memories

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

A Personal Perspective: Pixar's Inside Out 2 is a wonderful sequel to 2015's Oscar-winning Inside Out. What does it teach us about the inner life and sense of self?

Goldwater Rule

Responsible Dialogue on the “Goldwater Rule” Must Continue

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on May 19, 2024

Personal Perspective: The Annual Meeting of the APA included an oblique example of the Goldwater Rule in action, effectively gagging psychiatrists. This is unconscionable.

Media

“Admissions Granted”: AAPI Responses to Affirmative Action

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on May 10, 2024

A Personal Perspective: The U.S. Supreme Court overturned affirmative action using Asian Americans' stories. What do Asian Americans think of affirmative action?

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.

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.

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?

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?