Welcome back to The Trauma Safe Lab! In this episode, host Jennifer Nanda sits down with Dilpreet, co-founder of Philia Labs, for a fascinating conversation about making the invisible visible, specifically, how we can use technology and data to track stress, emotional dysregulation, and chronic health issues. Drawing on his background as a biomedical engineer and his personal passion for understanding the body’s stress response, Dilpreet shares how he and his co-founder Alex set out to tackle the problem of subjectivity in mental health care.
They dive into everything from the challenges of quantifying chronic stress, and the limitations of traditional tracking methods like mood diaries, to the powerful impact of biometric data in validating the lived experiences of people with trauma, autism, and anxiety. Jennifer brings her own experiences as someone navigating PTSD and neurodivergence, illustrating the life-changing potential of having objective proof for what’s happening inside.
Together, they explore how wearables and new biofeedback tools aren’t just about numbers, they’re about empowerment, early intervention, and building better communication between patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Whether you’re a clinician, someone living with chronic stress, or just curious about how technology is transforming mental health, this episode is a deep dive into the future of trauma-safe, data-driven care.
Timestamps:
00:00 Revolutionizing Stress Measurement Wearables
06:24 Intervention's Impact on Stress Response
11:00 "Benefits of Wearable Biofeedback"
19:23 Understanding Stress: Exposure, Appraisal, Response
23:34 Biofeedback 2.0: Enhanced Self-Monitoring
29:11 Autism and Interoception Challenges
38:36 Understanding and Managing Interoception Challenges
43:47 "Proactive Limits in 'Bagel Theory'"
49:37 Wearables Aid in Self-Understanding
54:05 Track Stress and Body Responses
59:13 Regulating Emotional Responses
01:01:51 "Measuring Interventions for Autonomic Flexibility"
1. Introduction & Personal Journey
Dilpreet’s background as a biomedical engineer
Early career focus: wearable sensors in Germany, Netherlands, Australia
Shift from cuffless blood pressure sensors to chronic stress measurement
Importance of stress as a root cause in various health issues (depression, anxiety, sleep)
Conversations with clinicians, professionals, and individuals to validate the need for stress measurement
2. The Gap in Mental Health Tracking
The subjective nature of current practices: questionnaires, mood/sleep diaries
Challenges reported by psychologists and psychiatrists
Autistic individuals’ struggles with self and external communication of suffering
The necessity of objective proof for individuals and providers
3. The Birth of the Startup and Technical Challenges
Cofounder Alex’s personal experience with burnout
Vision of “making the invisible visible” using biometric data
Insights from early research and expert consultations (heart rate variability limitations)
The technical challenge of developing a direct, wearable measure of fight-or-flight activity
4. Wearable Data and Intervention Outcomes
Development of new measures and pilot studies
Understanding heart rate variability and fight-or-flight (sympathetic arousal)
Observing mismatches between expected and actual intervention outcomes
The value of tracking both rest-and-digest and fight-or-flight activity for holistic health assessment
5. User Experience and Impact
Jennifer’s lived experience trialing the wearable
Seamless, low-burden tracking: sensory-friendly, no notifications, automatic data collection
Empowerment through objective data: personal insight, improved communication with healthcare teams and loved ones
6. Biofeedback: Context & Comparison
History and principles of biofeedback (from clinical settings to consumer wearables)
Example methods: electromyographs, EEG, guided training like HeartMath
Difference between traditional fitness trackers and biofeedback for intentional physiological influence
Modern wearables as biofeedback tools over longer timeframes
7. Recognizing Invisible Signs of Stress
Definitions: acute (momentary) vs chronic stress (prolonged exposure/appraisal)
The impact of chronic stress on the body and mind
Using non-triggering analogies (animal examples) to explain stress mechanisms
No trauma hierarchy: individual differences in response and appraisal
8. Objective Measurement and its Benefits
Objective data bridging gaps in subjective assessment
Three pillars of stress: exposure, appraisal, and physiological response
Potential for early intervention and prevention (e.g., PTSD, workplace trauma, postpartum depression)
9. Neurodivergence & Interoception (Autism, PTSD, Anxiety)
Poor interoception in autistic individuals: struggle sensing physiological/emotional states
Making dysregulation visible for self-awareness and communication
Interoception training and relevance for both autistic individuals and clinicians
10. Everyday Applications & Challenges
Real-world relevance: daily tasks, masking, burnout, physical injuries
Difficulties in self-acknowledgment or reporting of pain and dysregulation
Recognizing behavioral patterns, the importance of labeling and tracking everyday activities as “events”
11. Practical Tips for Managing Stress
Avoiding “mistakes”—instead, focusing on challenges: interoception, acknowledging stressors, seeking help early
Action steps: find effective breathing techniques, track patterns, repeat positive behaviors
12. Empowerment and Education
Using data to self-advocate, reduce dependency on others, and educate support networks
Developing personalized lists/pattern tracking for improved self-care
Role of caregivers and family in identifying and corroborating stress triggers
13. Getting Started with Biofeedback and Wearables
Simple entry points: smartphone/smartwatch tracking (heart rate, variability)
Importance of consistency, correlating patterns, self-experimentation
The “car analogy”: measuring both accelerator (fight/flight) and brake (rest/digest) states with advanced wearables
14. Measuring Progress: Strengths vs. Weaknesses
Deciding whether to focus on cultivating strengths or addressing weaknesses first
The journey towards autonomic flexibility and better stress regulation
Embracing biofeedback as a tool for all, regardless of starting point
15. Closing Thoughts & Vision
Mission to make objective stress measurement accessible for everyone
Long-term vision: enabling better interventions, quantifiable outcomes, and daily empowerment
Show Website - https://traumasafelab.com/
Jennifer Nanda - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evansjen/
Media Partner - TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/