Traumatic brain injuries received by Tom Buchanan while playing football at Yale have dramatically affected his behavior and emotions. If you were to ask someone what they think about Tom Buchanan, the one thing they are almost guaranteed to say is that he has problems. And they’re right. Tom is overly aggressive, supercilious and racist. Sadly, lots of people are born like this, but perhaps it is something that he developed. Tom played football and if you play football, you run the risk of a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) which can range from anything from a concussion to a brain contusion. These types of brain injuries usually have visible symptoms that develop quickly such as dizziness, headaches or vomiting. However, sometimes they won’t …show more content…
These problems are clearly present in Tom's life as evident by the affair he is having while his wife is seeing her lover from many years ago. In chapter seven Daisy says, “‘Why,—how could I love him—possibly?”’ This shows that Tom’s family is falling apart.
One additional sign that someone might have Borderline Personality Disorder is physical violence. At the end of chapter two, Tom tells Myrtle to stop saying Daisy’s name. She, of course, keeps saying it so Tom “[breaks] her nose with his open hand (41).” This physical violence is another clear sign of borderline personality disorder.
Another medical problem that can arise and is very common in players who suffer repeated hits to the head is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy “...is thought to be caused by repeated blows to the head, which damage brain tissue and lead to a buildup of an abnormal protein called tau… (Rachael Rettner)” It has also been linked to the deaths of multiple football players and has been found in the brains of more than sixty football players. One problem with it is that it can only be diagnosed after death. Chris Borland, a recent on-the-rise linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers who was set to be their starting middle linebacker for the 2015 NFL season. After researching the problems that can arise from repeated hits to the head, one of them being Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, he decided to retire in March