“Main character syndrome”, a term I heard for the first time recently and, unlike gyatt or skibidi, I knew exactly what it meant…The same thing as “they think the world revolves around them”. Main character syndrome – so concise, why didn’t I think of that?
Since I never heard that phrase before, it got me thinking, and…doesn’t everyone suffer from main character syndrome to some extent? Is it just a catchy phrase? The Marriam-Webster’s definition of syndrome is a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality or condition.
It’s not abnormal or a condition it’s just something we all are, the main character in our life.
We each have a world that revolves around us, and there’s no doubt that we are the main character in our story. We only have our own perspective and no matter how hard we try to see a different point of view, we’re only imagining what it’s like to walk in someone shoes. So, we really have no choice but to be the main character in our story.
There are instances though, when it’s acceptable for someone to take the spotlight in someone else’s world.
- Children, for example, are so full of energy and wonder, and they NEED attention, guidance, and loving direction – so when you have kids, they become the main character(s) in your story. But only for a time. There comes a time when you need to take that title role in your life back and let them lead their own story.
- A special occasion is another time when taking on a supporting role is okay. A birthday party, a wedding, a funeral, a baby shower…Obviously, the main character of the moment is whoever you are celebrating. It’s rude to come to someone else’s party with the idea that you will be the center of it all – although I’m sure we all can think of at least one person who doesn’t know how to take a back seat.
- A doctor needs to put themselves second while they are working. They must step into the supporting character role when it comes to what’s best for the patient and understand that the patient comes first. If the doctor doesn’t do that, move on to the next one asap. My brother’s body was littered with incurable cancer, and no one knew how bad it was, except perhaps the doctor who decided to perform a major spinal surgery on him. Why? Was it for the money he would be paid by insurance? Was it for practice? I don’t know, but whatever it was, I suspect it was for the doctor’s benefit and not for the patient.
There are plenty of other examples of when removing yourself from the center of your world is necessary, but when someone tries to play the main character in YOUR story often, that role of main character is a problematic syndrome.
So, whether we are talking about a syndrome or not, depends on the circumstances. It’s your life, you are the main character and if someone else tries to take that role inappropriately, you can in fact, write them right out of your story.
Perfect Dysfunction 