What is the Personal Alert Card and what is its purpose?

The Personal Alert Card is a tool for recognizing personal signals and taking action before they spill over into crisis. It helps individuals identify their emotional state, recognize warning signs, and implement control strategies to manage overwhelming situations.

How does the Emotional Thermometer work in the alert system?

The Emotional Thermometer uses a color-coded system with four levels: Green (Quiet) - feeling good, Yellow (Vigilance) - a little tense and need to be careful, Orange (Alert) - close to overflowing and need help, and Red (Crisis) - totally overwhelmed.

What are the four categories of personal alert signals mentioned in the card?

The four categories of personal alert signals are: Physical signals (tension in jaw, tense shoulders, accelerating heart), Behavioral signals (rocking movements, stare avoidance, need to manipulate objects), Cognitive signals (difficulty finding words, mental fog, accelerating thoughts), and Emotional signals (increasing irritability, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed).

What types of control strategies are included in the Personal Alert Card?

The control strategies include breathing techniques, sensory techniques, movement techniques, anchoring techniques, and the use of personal control objects. These are tools that individuals can use to manage their stress and emotional state.

When should someone implement their crisis plan according to the alert system?

The crisis plan should be implemented when someone reaches the orange (Alert) or red (Crisis) level on the emotional thermometer. At these levels, the person is either close to overflowing and needs help, or is totally overwhelmed and requires immediate intervention.

Can individuals customize the Personal Alert Card with their own signals?

Yes, individuals are encouraged to check off the signals they recognize and add their own personal warning signs. The card is designed to be personalized, allowing users to identify their unique physical, behavioral, cognitive, and emotional signals that indicate rising stress levels.

Warning Signs Card - Cognitive Training with DYNSEO

⚠️ My Personal Alert Signals

Check off the signals you recognize in your home and add your own:

💪 Physical Signals

Tension in the jaw
Tense shoulders
Accelerating heart
Fast/short breathing
Headaches
Knot in the belly
Sensation of warmth
Tingling/numbness

🔄 Behavioral Signals

Rocking / repetitive movements
Stare avoidance
Need to manipulate an object
Feel like running away / isolating myself
Plugging your ears
Drier/brief responses
Scratching / rubbing
Vocalisations / repetitions

🧩 Cognitive Signals

Difficulty finding my words
Mental fog
Accelerating thoughts
Inability to make a decision
Difficulty following a conversation
Unusual forgetfulness
Hyperfocus on a detail
Negative looping thoughts

💭 Emotional Signals

Increasing irritability
Anxiety / worry
Feel like crying
Feeling overwhelmed
Rising anger
Feeling of emptiness / disconnection
Hypersensitivity to criticism
Panic / intense fear

🛠️ My Control Strategies

Tools that work for me :

🫁 Breathing techniques

🤲 Sensory techniques

🏃 Movement techniques

🧘 Anchoring techniques

🎯 My control objects

🆘 My Crisis Plan

What to do when you're at the orange or red level:

1

Getting away from the situation

2

Reduce stimulation

3

Use my main control technique

4

Call someone if needed

5

After the crisis: recovery

📝 My sentence to say if I have to leave

📞 My Support Contacts

👤 Priority contact no. 1

Name

Relationship

Phone

What he/she can do to help me

👤 Priority contact no. 2

Name

Relationship

Phone

What he/she can do to help me

🏥 Healthcare professional

Name

Speciality

Phone

Availability times

🧠 My Personal Alert Card

🌡️ My Emotional Thermometer

I'm totally overwhelmed

I'm close to overflowing - I need help

I'm a little tense - I need to be careful

I feel good - Everything's fine

⚠️ My Personal Alert Signals

💪 Physical Signals

🔄 Behavioral Signals

🧩 Cognitive Signals

💭 Emotional Signals

🛠️ My Control Strategies

🫁 Breathing techniques

🤲 Sensory techniques

🏃 Movement techniques

🧘 Anchoring techniques

🎯 My control objects

🆘 My Crisis Plan

Getting away from the situation

Reduce stimulation

Use my main control technique

Call someone if needed

After the crisis: recovery

📝 My sentence to say if I have to leave

📞 My Support Contacts

👤 Priority contact no. 1

👤 Priority contact no. 2

🏥 Healthcare professional