Brain connections are like cowpaths the more they are traveled the deeper they become entrenched. Having them practicing other thoughts will let their brain gr

Brain connections are like cowpaths the more they are traveled the deeper they become entrenched. Having them practicing other thoughts will let their brain gradually collect the garbage (unused synapses go weaker and are ultimately pruned over time). Some people may end up ruminating those thoughts anyway, but I'd expect them to be a minority (the propensity for long-term rumination is linked to mental issues that are somewhat prevalent, but not that much). Removing the social validation will help most people withdraw from the problematic thoughts.