What is Failure to Complete Syndrome?

Many people around the world suffer from an ailment that is sometimes identified as Failure to Complete Syndrome, or FTC for short. This condition is not limited to a particular gender or people of a given age. Anyone can develop this ailment, much to the consternation and frustration of friends and family alike. While not fatal, FTC can harm relationships and possibly lead to some embarrassing situations.

There is only one basic sign or symptom that indicates the presence of Failure to Complete Syndrome. All sufferers find themselves forgetting to manage that last step in any given activity. Kitchen cabinet doors are left ajar, toilet seats are left up, and borrowed items never quite make it back to their owners. FTC can manifest in other situations, such as failure to sign a letter, or even to mail a letter.

While FTC is normally associated with men, leading to socks and underwear left on the bedroom floor or used towels just missing the bathroom hamper, the condition is not unknown in women. With females, FTC is apt to be present when tools don't make it back to the toolbox, the remote control is not in the usual spot, or appointments to change the oil in the family vehicle are missed. Both genders may find themselves leaving the cap off the toothpaste or forgetting to close the bathroom door firmly before taking a shower.

Failure to Complete Syndrome is highly contagious. This means that anyone in close proximity to an individual suffering with FTC is likely to begin manifesting symptoms within a very short period of time. Once an entire household is infected, the task of ridding the home of this dreaded disease is extremely difficult.

Fortunately, there is hope for anyone suffering from FTC. Behavior modification therapy, either professional or homegrown by the spouse or partner, can often call attention to these errant behaviors and lead to at least a partial recovery. In some cases, tough love approaches that involved withholding privileges until tasks are completed in full may be effective. There has also been talk of starting a support group for FTC sufferers, but no one seems to be able to complete the last steps required to get a group going.