Carrie Underwood: Elevators, Bathrooms Used to Freak Me Out
Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Before she became the fourth American Idol, a country superstar and new bride to hockey hunk Mike Fisher, Carrie Underwood used to freak out in elevators, malls, and other crowded situations.
Underwood, 27, reveals to WebMD the Magazine that she suffered panic attacks as a high schooler in Checotah, Okla.
"I'm a big personal space person," the star admits. "You know, if you go to the restroom, you use the stall that's not near anybody. Or if you're in the gym, you go to the treadmill where there's space in between you."
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The worst possible scenario? Christmas shopping at the mall was "my worst nightmare," she tells the magazine.
"And it seemed like in crowded situations like that, people would just completely violate your personal space," she says.
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Although she's now gotten a handle on her panic attacks, she confides that she still struggles. A day before her Web MD interview, she had to control her fears while in an elevator.
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"Every floor we stopped on, we'd cram more people in, and by the time we were done, there was just a ton of people," the singer related. "So I start thinking about all the bad things that can happen, and I'm like, 'I've got to get off the elevator, I need to get off the elevator.'" She laughs. "I was just like, 'No more stops, please, no more stops!'"
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Underwood still has to collect herself when meeting fans. "They feel like they know you and they love you and that's wonderful -- they're excited to meet you," she explains. "It just took me a minute to be able to figure that out and to be able to allow people into my space."
Tell Us What You Think
14You know what frightens me, a guy with a hairy back.
You'll always be #1 in my book.
ATTN RECEP'S GIRLFRIEND: UH HELLO.....HOW IS CARRIE FAT.....LOOK AT THE PIC YOU DUMBASS....AND SHE IS GORGEOUS
I'm the same way! And I live in Manhattan, NYC, that's what did it to me, you can't get away from ANYONE here, it's horrible, surrounded by people. Hate being in an apartment building all these years, hearing and smelling everything from neighbors apartments, it so horrible, I hate this city anymore. Tourists everywhere, can't get down the sidewalks, rollerskaters, bicycles, skateboards, they all try to run you down! UGH! DON'T move here, you will end up hating it!
I definitely know what she means!
I'm surprised she has freaked out from looking at her ugly face in the mirror. Carrie is so Fat,Ugly and Fugly. Blonde Who.re. Blonde Sl.ut. I HATE Carrie. I hope she dies from aids and or ovarian cancer. Muhahahaha.
Kimberly - she was doing an interview for WebMD, so yes they probably did ask her this question....it wasn't like Vogue was interviewing her, if they were they probably would have asked her questions regarding fashion.....I'm sorry she has/had phobias, but she IS humah....why wouldn't she...
She's monkish! Everyone has some kind of phobia...
really? how interesting.... not! you call this news?? i dont think so. how does US even get information like this? do they just call up celebs and ask them, "what freaks you out?"
Cankles frighten me too.
You know what freaks me out? Knuckle Hair! How come some people have hairy knuckles?
I saw a re-run of her visit to the Ellen Degeneres show this morning and she gave 2 tksts to a audience member and I noticed her disconfort with the enthusiasm the winner showed. I thought it was odd but now I understand. It has nothing to do with being anti-social at all.
she better not go to China!
I can relate to her as I have a prob with that too. Mall shopping is the worst. I can't stand being crowded around a bunch of strangers.