368 | I’ll Decide What I’m Supposed To Do with Erika Hopkins

Listen as your host, Eric Tivers, and his guest Erika Hopkins discuss her background, why she went to college to find a husband, her history of poor health, being tired and depressed and diagnosed with hypoglycemia, plus much more on this episode of ADHD reWired.

Erika is a professional educator and aspiring author who lives with her husband and three boys in Idaho. She holds a Master of Education degree in secondary science, a Bachelor of Nutrition Science, and a Chemistry minor. Debilitated by chronic fatigue attributed to depression, Erika relinquished her idea that mothers should remain home. She took a job at the local high school, where the process of science and unlikely friendship challenged Erika's views of herself and the world. Ultimately, she discovered she has been living with undiagnosed ADHD. 

Listen, as Erika shares her background, her goal to be a wife and mother, becoming a high school science teacher, and having three sons under three. Erika speaks about the mentor she was assigned as a new teacher, the moment that took her breath away, and going to doctor after doctor trying to find out what was wrong with her.

Erika discusses resigning from her teaching position and getting the ADHD diagnosis. Erika believes that people with ADHD don't have the executive function to make things happen, and she talks about some tools she has learned that have been helpful for her. Erika is excited about the future and feels free and adventurous, and all it took was talking to someone who put two and two together.

You'll Learn:

• [03:39] Welcome to the show, Erika!
• [04:18] What experience led you to the transformation of you questioning everything you know?
• [07:04] Erika shares that her parents helped her come up with an appropriate degree if something happened to her husband and she needed to work.
• [09:38] Her goal was to become a wife and mother.
• [12:21] Erika speaks about her body having trouble managing levels. So the episodes of fatigue continued.
• [14:00] Erika went back to school and became a high school science teacher.
• [17:34] Having three sons under three and all in diapers is so tiring and noisy.
• [22:58] “The pressure on women to be organized, self-controlled, the one that is keeping everyone else organized is a societal expectation that is deeply ingrained.”
• ["5:49] Erika speaks about researching how to write a book.
• [28:52] Because she wasn't taking care of herself, being home with her children wasn't sustainable.
• [30:53] Erika shares about the mentor she was assigned to as a new teacher.
• [33:05] She describes the moment that took her breath away.
• [36:15] Erika went to dozens of doctors, trying to figure out why she is so tired all the time.
• [39:43] The doctor told her she was normal, her blood work came back normal.
• [46:40] Erika speaks about resigning from her teaching position.
• [50:05] People with ADHD don't have the executive function to make things happen.
• [53:16] Erika talks about some things that have been helpful for her.
• [55:47] Erika cautions people not to believe everything someone tells them.
• [57:05] Erika feels free and more adventurous, and she is excited about the future.
• [58:02] Thank you for being on the show!
• [58:50:] If you are a regular listener, consider becoming a patron by clicking on our Patreon tab at www.ADHDreWired.com