I found RR/AVRT to be enormously helpful , there are great threads on these ideas here on SR in the Secular Connections forum, I highly recommend giving hem 'a look see'.
To put in terms of your analogy, you are capable of getting off the elephant and it has no power to command you to ride again, you can dismount and walk away, you just need to break the illusion that you are 'stuck' in Its saddle.
wish you well and hope to see you around