I had to unlearn that one too.
I agree, having an incorrect oversimplified visualization is a real pain. It sticks. Sort of like those musical earworms.
It's actually kind of hard to remember both versions at the same time, it's like they're natural enemies and one tries to blot the other out.
I bet you really flipped when they introduced fractions, and then low and behold, IRRATIONAL numbers and then, WOW, complex numbers! Why didn't they just start off with complex numbers instead of teaching that INCORRECT, OVERSIMPLIFIED visualization of integers. It sticks, right?