Robbie Williams: Agoraphobia Left Him Housebound for 3 Years

In the latest episode of 'mental health doesn't discriminate', singer, songwriter and entertainer Robbie Williams has opened up about how his agoraphobia left him unable to get off the sofa for three years and caused him to turn down a £15 million deal to replace Simon Cowell on American Idol.

Williams told the Sun that between 2006 and 2009 he was unable to “leave the sofa” and couldn’t take on more work because his mind was telling him that he “shouldn’t go anywhere”.

“It was my body and mind telling me I shouldn’t go anywhere, that I couldn’t do anything. It was telling me to just wait — so I literally just sat and waited,” said Williams.

"Those years were just spent wearing a cashmere kaftan, eating Kettle Chips, growing a beard and staying in."

According to the NHS, agoraphobia is a fear of being in situations where escape might not be possible or where it could be difficult to find help if things go wrong.

People with agoraphobia usually exhibit symptoms that are similar to a panic attack, so experience things like a rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, feeling hot and sweaty or feeling sick. However, lifestyle changes such as taking up regular exercise and avoiding alcohol can help treat the condition, with around a third of people with agoraphobia eventually achieving a complete cure.

For Williams, the turning point in his battle came when he heard a lyric in the Killers song Human. The line that resonated with Williams goes "sometimes I get nervous / When I see an open door.” For Williams it was all he needed to seek help.

It was like having a car crash and then learning how to walk again

“I remember listening to that Killers song and something in that moment made me think, ‘I had better get my arse in gear, put an album together and tour’.”

With the help of a therapist and his Take That bandmates, Williams is now back to his charismatic self, but, he says, getting his mind right wasn't simple.

“It wasn’t an easy process, it was like having a car crash and then learning how to walk again,” he added.