Adolescents with ADHD often described a tension between feeling more capable on medication and feeling less like their “true selves.” While stimulants could help them meet expectations for focus and productivity, some reported that being medicated made their personalities feel muted or artificial. This struggle reflects a deeper cultural message that one’s value is tied to performance rather than to authenticity or self-expression. Ableist frameworks push individuals to conform to neurotypical standards, even at the cost of undermining their own sense of identity.