God bless! Lauren, this process is constantly taking place. Orthodoxy helps us to become aware of it though. When we have "returned to freedom" by isolating thoughts, normally by the Jesus prayer or reciting the Psalms, we should return to our lives more soberly. Sobriety is the constant calling to mind 1. My sinfulness 2. The many chances I have wasted 3. The coming judgment 4. The goodness of God. This is the watchful life. When the thoughts assail us, we have left off watchfulness. So the return to freedom is the isolation of thought, a life of prayer and watchfulness.

bless father, when we kill our thoughts and they hide from our attention to attack later, what sort of advice do you have in preparation? And what disposition should we be in once we've noticed that they're "gone"

Bless father, wow! This one is intense. It really tears off the Band-Aid.