With the mental obsession and with character defects, we talk about removal, but the truth is more complex.
One way of looking at this is to say that they're removed (out of the way) but they're not removed far.
Another way of looking at this is to say that the mental obsession or defect has not been removed but has been deactivated.
And both the mental obsession and defect can be reactivated if my spiritual status is not maintained. By me.