The Trauma Phenotype: What Can You Do With It?

With the trauma phenotype, we have a model in hand that allows trauma to be better studied and understood. The latter is, for now, the main goal. A better understanding of trauma can take place on both a societal and an individual level.
 

1. Individual: A smart online tool (and/or phone app) provides insight into one's own trauma and the coping mechanisms related to it. Because the theme of 'trauma' is taken out of the taboo sphere ("almost everyone has it"), feelings of guilt and shame can be released more easily, and one can then decide whether or not to seek healing.
   The app enables users to generate their own trauma phenotype and to compare it (e.g. by tapping another phone) with someone else's. If desired, parts of the trauma phenotype can of course be shielded. In this way, a conversation can be held safely, guided by the app, about parts of the past that may already be ripe for discussion.
    

2. Societal: The concept of 'trauma' and the debate around it gain even more of the attention it deserves than they do now (we are already on the right track). Societal gains can be achieved by reducing feelings of guilt and shame caused by coping mechanisms. Understanding how these mechanisms arise, 'bringing them further out of the Shadow', and widening the path toward healing (from the trauma, and thus the coping mechanisms) has a societal effect, in the sense that people (citizens) can take more responsibility for their own behavior, also with an eye to the upbringing of children (the next generations).
   Through larger scientific studies, trauma phenotypes can be correlated with somatic conditions—particularly those about which much is still unknown (unexplained pain, fatigue, but also cancer, stomach/intestinal problems, and so on).