Zac Efron has opened up about his personal struggle with agoraphobia – the fear of public and unfamiliar spaces. In a Men's Health cover interview, the actor revealed that he often keeps a low profile due to his anxiety.
"I just don't go out. People in large groups trigger my agoraphobia," he said.
Efron's comments come as he opened up about living in Byron Bay amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time he gave himself a chance to loosen up a bit and also deal with his agoraphobia.
"At one point, this was a dream of mine," he explained. "What would it be like to not have to be in shape all the time."
Ever since he was a teenager, the actor has faced all kinds of pressure to stay as fit as possible. At various stages of his career, Efron has frequently altered his physique and has been forced to maintain a strict exercise and diet regimen.
Efron's agoraphobia is, in some ways, not so surprising. At the beginning of his career - in the High School Musical era - he attracted many teenage fans who in many cases turned into fanatics.
He's not the only star to have spoken out about the condition – Kim Basinger, Barbra Streisand, Woody Allen, Sally Field and Emma Stone are all celebrities who struggle or have struggled with agoraphobia at some point in their lives.
