What are MindAid Coping Keys?

MindAid Coping Keys are a set of 20 coping keys, or cards, that contain helpful statements to assist individuals in coping effectively with emotionally difficult situations. Each pack is portable, compact, and packaged in a handy metal box (9cm x 6cm). They can be used by anyone, anytime as a personal support aid or in conjunction with psychological treatment.

What do the different colours mean?

The cards have been colour coded to help you identify common problems:

Depression/the blues (orange)

How do MindAid Coping Keys work?

The MindAid Coping Keys are a psychological self-help tool that helps you redirect your thoughts so you can combat negative self-talk. MindAid Coping Keys use principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT. CBT is a form of psychological therapy based around helping you understand, manage and change your thoughts (cognitions) and actions (behaviour).
Research has shown that one's thoughts and unhelpful "self-talk" can affect one's mood, physical feelings (bodily symptoms) and behaviours. Thus, an individual can alter their emotional state by changing the way that they think or view a situation or an event. Helpful thinking is consistently associated with less mental illness (e.g., anxiety, depression and stress), and an increase in protective health behaviours, productivity and social engagement.

How are the Coping Keys different to Positive Thinking or Positive Affirmations?

The Coping Keys promote helpful thinking which is not the same positive thinking or positive affirmations (aspirational statements). In order to examine the differences, consider the following: Positive affirmation: "I am beautiful, happy and I love myself." Coping Keys: "I am working on accepting me as I am" or "I am a work in progress and that is ok." The reason positive affirmations typically don’t work is that they target the conscious level of the mind, but not the unconscious. If what the individual is trying to affirm is a deeply-held negative belief, then all that results is an inner struggle. If a negative belief is deeply rooted in the unconscious mind, then it has the ability to override a positive affirmation. The positive affirmation can actually provoke contradictory thoughts in individuals with low self-esteem. When positive self-statements strongly conflict with self-perception, there can be a reinforcing of the negative self-perception.
For example, an individual may feel worthless and unattractive - a commonly held belief by depressed people all over the world. This belief may feel deeply and irrevocably true, no matter what the actual reality might be. A positive affirmation, or positive thinking, may encourage the individual to look at themselves in the mirror each day and say "I am beautiful, happy and I love myself." If the individual deeply believes and feels that he or she is worthless, it will set off an inner conflict. With each positive declaration, the unconscious will disagree. People who view themselves as worthless, for example, find that saying to themselves they are lovable and happy and beautiful (which they don’t really believe), in turn strengthens their own negative view, rather than reversing it. This conflict uses up a great deal of energy and creates tension in the body. The end result is that the negative belief becomes stronger and what the individual really desires fails to manifest, resulting in more disappointment.
In contrast, one of the key principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is to encourage adaptive and realistic thought patterns. The focus is on identifying and promoting thought patterns that represent helpful responses to difficult situations. These thought patterns promote behaviour change which will generate a more positive mood. By introducing realistic, helpful statements, the brain does not have to deal with the confrontation and the triggering of conflicting feelings. Instead, the well-worn neural pathways that make up the pattern of negative thinking can take a rest, as a new path of neutrality develops. This neutral path then provides a great basis for positive thinking to begin. CBT has been found to be very effective in the treatment of a wide range of social and emotional difficulties. However, generating alternative and more adaptive thoughts is typically quite difficult when one is experiencing strong negative emotions. This is where the Coping Keys help. They contain helpful statements that help to redirect one's thoughts in a realistic way.

How do I use the Coping Keys?

We suggest that you keep the cards close by (e.g., pocket, purse, car, desk, wallet etc) so that you can quickly refer to them both on a regular basis and as needed. You can remove a favourite card from the key ring to carry it with you or put it on a location where you will see it often, like the fridge, on a mirror, on your computer screen etc.

What makes this product useful and functional?

MindAid Coping Keys use principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT.
In addition, the Coping Keys are:
• Practical – help you to cope with everyday stressors
• Portable – can be used anywhere, anytime
• Simple and Intuitive – no background knowledge required, provides immediate aid
• Detachable – Coping Keys can be removed from the key ring
• Discreet – can provide help to those reluctant or unable to seek psychological treatment
• Diverse – specialised packs for a range of difficulties
• Quality - professional look and feel
• Effective – application of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Can I get a discount on MindAid products for a large/bulk order?

Yes, please see our Terms and Conditions for more info about this.