Eric Lampaert, a comedian and actor, has a unique story of amnesia and memory loss that has shaped his life and career. In 2019, Lampaert woke up with no memory of his past, a condition that left him feeling like a stranger in his own body. This experience, which he calls 'the event', was a result of his hypnotherapy sessions, which he believed would help him heal from his anxiety and depression. However, the therapy triggered a series of events that led to his amnesia.
Lampaert's journey with amnesia is a complex one. He had always been known as Eric Lampaert, but when the amnesia struck, he deleted his website and stopped posting to his 100,000 Facebook followers. He adopted new social media identities and made ends meet with occasional TV work and one-off gigs heavy on improv. The new show, Zero Minus One, is an attempt to heal, to reunite himself with his name and his past.
The story of how Lampaert lost his memory and regained it is a fascinating one. He had always been raised all over the world before settling in the UK, and his amnesia happened in an instant, but it was a lifetime in the making. He had anxiety and depression, and his marriage broke down, leading to a very lonely time. He filed for divorce and felt deep sadness, rejection, and shame. He also cheated because of his abandonment issues when he was a kid.
Lampaert's amnesia was so complete that he didn't recognize his parents. He felt like a stranger in his own body and had to remold himself. He started to see synchronicities between his internal and external worlds, and his experience of psychosis intensified with Covid-19. He tried Jungian therapy, an NHS course for people with PTSD, antidepressants and mood stabilizers, and read widely.
Lampaert's insight into his own traumatic memories has given him a better understanding of himself and others. He has lived with his dad in Newmarket for the past 18 months, the first time since childhood. He told his dad he felt abandoned, and he said, 'Well, yeah, you know, Nan left the house when I was seven.' He says he is on great terms with his mum. As for the voices in his head, he says there is only 'Shhh.' He can't help wondering if life for Lampaert is better now, with his new, rearranged 'relationship with the universe', or whether it was better before the amnesia.
In conclusion, Eric Lampaert's story of amnesia and memory loss is a fascinating and complex one. It has shaped his life and career, and his journey with amnesia is a testament to his resilience and determination to heal and regain his sense of self.
