diff --git a/code/datums/brain_damage/phobia.dm b/code/datums/brain_damage/phobia.dm
index 24efb013c8..a548af4e88 100644
--- a/code/datums/brain_damage/phobia.dm
+++ b/code/datums/brain_damage/phobia.dm
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 
 /datum/brain_trauma/mild/phobia/on_life()
 	..()
-	if(owner.eye_blind)
+	if(is_blind(owner))
 		return
 	if(world.time > next_check && world.time > next_scare)
 		next_check = world.time + 50
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@
 							return
 
 /datum/brain_trauma/mild/phobia/on_hear(message, speaker, message_language, raw_message, radio_freq)
-	if(owner.has_trait(TRAIT_DEAF) || world.time < next_scare) //words can't trigger you if you can't hear them *taps head*
+	if(!owner.can_hear() || world.time < next_scare) //words can't trigger you if you can't hear them *taps head*
 		return message
 	for(var/word in trigger_words)
-		if(findtext(message, word))
+		if(findtext(raw_message, word))
 			addtimer(CALLBACK(src, .proc/freak_out, null, word), 10) //to react AFTER the chat message
 			break
 	return message
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/brain/brain_item.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/brain/brain_item.dm
index a63c8f7424..89ff6328c7 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/brain/brain_item.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/brain/brain_item.dm
@@ -167,8 +167,8 @@
 
 /obj/item/organ/brain/Destroy() //copypasted from MMIs.
 	if(brainmob)
-		qdel(brainmob)
-		brainmob = null
+		QDEL_NULL(brainmob)
+	QDEL_LIST(traumas)
 	return ..()
 
 /obj/item/organ/brain/alien
@@ -218,25 +218,39 @@
 		return FALSE
 	return TRUE
 
-//Add a specific trauma
-/obj/item/organ/brain/proc/gain_trauma(datum/brain_trauma/trauma, resilience, list/arguments)
+//Proc to use when directly adding a trauma to the brain, so extra args can be given
+/obj/item/organ/brain/proc/gain_trauma(datum/brain_trauma/trauma, resilience, ...)
+	var/list/arguments = list()
+	if(args.len > 2)
+		arguments = args.Copy(3)
+	. = brain_gain_trauma(trauma, resilience, arguments)
+
+//Direct trauma gaining proc. Necessary to assign a trauma to its brain. Avoid using directly.
+/obj/item/organ/brain/proc/brain_gain_trauma(datum/brain_trauma/trauma, resilience, list/arguments)
 	if(!can_gain_trauma(trauma, resilience))
 		return
-	if(ispath(trauma))
-		trauma = new(arglist(arguments))
-	else
-		if(trauma.brain) //we don't accept used traumas here
-			WARNING("gain_trauma was given an already active trauma.")
-			return
 
-	traumas += trauma
-	trauma.brain = src
+	var/datum/brain_trauma/actual_trauma
+	if(ispath(trauma))
+		if(!LAZYLEN(arguments))
+			actual_trauma = new trauma() //arglist with an empty list runtimes for some reason
+		else
+			actual_trauma = new trauma(arglist(arguments))
+	else
+		actual_trauma = trauma
+
+	if(actual_trauma.brain) //we don't accept used traumas here
+		WARNING("gain_trauma was given an already active trauma.")
+		return
+
+	traumas += actual_trauma
+	actual_trauma.brain = src
 	if(owner)
-		trauma.owner = owner
-		trauma.on_gain()
+		actual_trauma.owner = owner
+		actual_trauma.on_gain()
 	if(resilience)
-		trauma.resilience = resilience
-	SSblackbox.record_feedback("tally", "traumas", 1, trauma.type)
+		actual_trauma.resilience = resilience
+	SSblackbox.record_feedback("tally", "traumas", 1, actual_trauma.type)
 
 //Add a random trauma of a certain subtype
 /obj/item/organ/brain/proc/gain_trauma_type(brain_trauma_type = /datum/brain_trauma, resilience)
@@ -250,8 +264,7 @@
 		return
 
 	var/trauma_type = pick(possible_traumas)
-	SSblackbox.record_feedback("tally", "traumas", 1, trauma_type)
-	traumas += new trauma_type(src, resilience)
+	gain_trauma(trauma_type, resilience)
 
 //Cure a random trauma of a certain resilience level
 /obj/item/organ/brain/proc/cure_trauma_type(resilience = TRAUMA_RESILIENCE_BASIC)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/status_procs.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/status_procs.dm
index 7a7a4681c5..7472d5f058 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/status_procs.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/status_procs.dm
@@ -80,10 +80,13 @@
 	if(B)
 		. = B.has_trauma_type(brain_trauma_type, resilience)
 
-/mob/living/carbon/proc/gain_trauma(datum/brain_trauma/trauma, resilience, list/arguments)
+/mob/living/carbon/proc/gain_trauma(datum/brain_trauma/trauma, resilience, ...)
 	var/obj/item/organ/brain/B = getorganslot(ORGAN_SLOT_BRAIN)
 	if(B)
-		. = B.gain_trauma(trauma, resilience, arguments)
+		var/list/arguments = list()
+		if(args.len > 2)
+			arguments = args.Copy(3)
+		. = B.brain_gain_trauma(trauma, resilience, arguments)
 
 /mob/living/carbon/proc/gain_trauma_type(brain_trauma_type = /datum/brain_trauma, resilience)
 	var/obj/item/organ/brain/B = getorganslot(ORGAN_SLOT_BRAIN)