Adult ADHD is associated with many life difficulties that can create distorted mindsets and otherwise unhelpful ways of thinking about yourself, your life, and your future, the classic cognitive triad of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Multiple studies have demonstrated that adults with ADHD report such thoughts to a greater degree than individuals without ADHD, showing that ADHD itself is enough to affect one’s outlook. This session will shed light on the influence of such unhelpful thoughts and how they are associated with living with ADHD. Various cognitive modification strategies for examining automatic thoughts and developing more helpful, yet still plausible outlooks will be discussed. These include perspective-taking, define your terms, and the double standard method. Ideas for acceptance of thoughts, also known as cognitive defusion and general distancing techniques will be discussed including the use of distanced self-talk. Lastly, positive examples of managing ADHD as a lifestyle issue from interview studies of adults with ADHD and demonstrating the dignity and nobility of “muddling through” as an essential part of the “thriving with ADHD” process will be shared.