as a lifelong depressive, the "sticky thinking" issue is the main reason why practices like mindfulness meditation are essential. Though MM I've been able to isolate what it actually "feels" like to resist letting a "sticky" thought go, what's behind that resistance, and what it "feels" like to let it go anyway, which is to say, it feels awkward. A good kind of awkward because you realize you're teaching your neurons a new skill they haven't done before. Call it "thought hygiene" and consider it like any other skill like writing or riding a bike.
I also observe that the primary thing an SSRI does for me is that it makes thoughts much less sticky, to the point of forgetfulness.
replies(4):