Finding Ahimsa

The COVID pandemic brought heartache and challenges to billions of people simultaneously, and thrust the world into the experience of collective trauma. Erin's story is one of those experiences.

Just as North America began to understand the global impact of COVID-19, in March of 2020, Erin experienced the described symptoms associated with the virus. Unable to attain a government issued test to confirm her diagnosis, Erin continued to experience strange symptoms for months following her suspected infection.

Knowing something just wasn't right, Erin began her own research and discovered a group of individuals who referred to themselves as "COVID Longhaulers". Continuing to reach out to medical professionals, in the midst of growing social tension and community division, Erin's symptoms progressively worsened. Months later, she was diagnosed with a potentially fatal, rare, autoimmune disease.

This is the true story of Erin's will to live during a time when dependence on her community was both crucial and unreliable. It is a story that encompasses many of the stories collected throughout her process to receive the treatment required to save her life. Finding herself searching for peace amid thoughts of fear and blame while in the thick of collective and personal pain, Erin was able to repeatedly find it using Nonviolent Communication and compassion techniques. Finding Ahimsa explores the process of finding humanity in unexpected places and the emergence of resilience from the connecting power of compassion.

In her debut memoir, Erin describes and reflects on her physical and emotional health journey as she works to lean into heartache and explores how it is in her curiosity about disconnecting experiences that she is able to find the path to Ahimsa.