Trauma Trauma can refer to a physical event or injury but can also be a reaction to a tragic event such as an accident, disaster, rape or act of terrorism. All these events can be traumatic for people of all ages and can cause long-term physical and emotional symptoms. Often the "visible" physical trauma hides the psychological trauma that sometimes appears weeks or months after the injury. If psychological problems (denial, dissociation, flashback, nightmares) persist, physical symptoms (migraines, nausea) and changes in behaviour can occur and without treatment the person may be seriously affected. It is generally accepted that the closer one has experienced the trauma, the deeper the memory will take root causing long-lasting changes in the balance of the brain.