Liam Payne Opens Up About His Agoraphobia

The singer is getting personal about his mental health journey.

Liam Payne has been extremely open with his supporters about his anxiety, fears, and periods of self-doubt. Even though fans are always there for him, he has previously confessed struggles to finding his unique voice with his solo music – and even said he worried that nobody at all would come to his live shows.

In a new interview with Esquire Me, Liam shared that he has also experienced agoraphobia, which is an anxiety disorder. Individuals with agoraphobia can fear places and situations that could cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment, and the singer said his disorder would keep him from going out his daily life.

“I would never leave the house. And I do sometimes suffer with it a bit in the sense that I’ll get days where I just don’t want to leave my house. Even if it’s just going to the shop,” Liam said. “I’d be going to order a coffee at Starbucks and I would sweat because I wouldn’t know whether I was doing the right thing or not. I would be thinking: ‘I don’t want to be here.’”

Liam also explained he’s struggled with being followed on the streets and constantly getting photographed, something he knows many artists in the entertainment industry can relate to.

“I even used to have a really bad problem with going to petrol stations and paying for [gas],” he added. “I can feel it now—it was like this horrible anxiety where I’d be sweating buckets in the car thinking ‘I don’t want to do this.’”

Now, he has found comfort in going for runs outdoors in the early morning hours, which helps him get outside and keep him fitness-focused.

“I love it. I get myself outside and into the day and get past that fear of ‘what if this happens?’ or ‘what if that happens?’” he said.

We’re so glad to hear Liam has found a helpful routine that helps ease his anxiety – and we’re proud of him for bravely sharing his story.