Zac Efron just dropped another bombshell in his cover interview for the Men’s Health October issue, telling the pub that he suffers from agoraphobia and doesn’t like leaving his house. Woah!
The 34-year-old High School Musical star already opened up to the mag about how training for Baywatch back in 2017 may have given him a super-sculpted body, but it also left him with a lot of mental health issues too, such as insomnia and depression. As well as also finally addressing his dramatic change in appearance, which he confirmed was due to him breaking his jaw in a freak accident at his home that left him unconscious, the Greatest Showman actor also got candid about another part of his personal life: his secret battle with agoraphobia!
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“I just don’t go out,” the Gold actor confessed to the publication. “People in large groups, it triggers my agoraphobia,” he added, which is the first time he has mentioned his battle with the rare anxiety disorder. Although Efron didn’t go into much more detail about the condition, he said more than enough to trigger a rise in people searching for it online. So what exactly is agoraphobia? And can someone overcome agoraphobia once they have it?
What is agoraphobia?
Many people think that agoraphobia is a fear of open spaces, and is the exact opposite of claustrophobia, i.e., the fear of small, closed spaces. While this can be true, it is actually a little more complicated than that, as agoraphobia can also mean a fear of crowded spaces, and a fear of being in a situation they can’t escape from, which can then lead to panic attacks. Some examples include traveling on an airplane or on public transport, where getting off between stops is impossible, or going somewhere unfamiliar without knowing how to leave (perhaps being unfamiliar with where the exits are) and get back home or somewhere regarded as a safe space.
Is agoraphobia genetic?
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, agoraphobia can indeed be inherited from parents, and genetics actually play a huge factor in whether someone will go on to develop the condition. Environment is said to be another contributing factor, as is pasta trauma; for example, someone who was sexually abused as a child could be more likely to develop the condition alongside other anxiety disorders.
Can agoraphobia be cured?
According to reports, agoraphobia can be managed or cured altogether with treatment such as support groups, learning relaxation techniques, practicing desensitization, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication, typically medications which are also used to treat depression and panic and anxiety disorders.
