What you posted earlier resonated with me. When I find myself in a new environment, on holiday or whatever, it seems to free my mind up to be whatever I want to be.

This also ties in with the thing about seeing people or imagining events from your past and it taking you back to another time and place that isn't always a pleasant experience.

Proper psychology stuff I've read about this phenomenon says that what's happening is you are fusing with the thoughts rather than just letting them pass through.

You can't stop them coming up, you just have to notice when they come up and let them go on their way. They're actually harmless on their own - it's fusing with them that causes the problems.

So first step is to be aware they are just thoughts (words) and you are not your thoughts.