ANXIETY disorders affect around 10% of the UK population, often without sufferers realising it.

Now Linda Bestwick, of Coedpoeth, has published a booklet to help people experiencing stress or anxiety to relax and control their thoughts.

'I first began to suffer anxiety disorders after I hit puberty,' she said. 'I had been a normal girl before then but when I became an adult I began to feel panicked about everything.

'As the years went on it got worse until in the late 90s I had to give up work.'

As part of her treatment with a doctor who specialised in cognitive behavioural disorders, Linda sought out and wrote down quotes and sayings.

'Particular phrases had a calming effect or helped me rationalise my thoughts,' said the 41-year-old. 'When anxiety takes hold it is easy to make everything more dramatic and sensational than it really is.

'By reading the phrases it helped me gain a perspective on what I was feeling and bring it under control.

'I became incredibly self-conscious, believing everyone was looking at me. I suffered agoraphobia and couldn't leave the house and I couldn't hold conversations with people.'

Linda is still agoraphobic and can become stressed during conversations, particularly with strangers, but she decided to use her experiences to write a book to help other people in her situation.

The Feel Better Flip Book costs £4.99 and is a collection of her favourite advice and sayings which she feels could help many people.

And she has published it herself with no big money backing.

'I wanted and would still like a publisher to take it on and distribute it all over the country,' said Linda.

'But I have had to put it out there myself. Not all the phrases in it will help everyone and if some phrases in there make people more anxious they can rip them out, but I think they will help most people.'

The book is a small stand-alone flip book which sits on top of the desk.

'I wanted to make it very easy to use because when you are in the grip of an anxiety or panic attack the simplest things are forgotten and I wanted people to be able to read the quotes during an attack.

'I developed it with other sufferers I have met over the years and with my friends and family, who have been incredibly supportive.

'I currently have around 100 books but hope to print more.'

The Feel Better Flip Book can be ordered through amazon.co.uk, tesco.com plus any high street book-shop. If you are a publisher who would like to help Linda expand the distribution of her book, you can contact her on 01978 758926 or by email at stikiblew@lbestwick.fsnet.co.uk