American Idol Star Clay Aiken Suffers Anxiety Attacks  9/22/06

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American Idol star Clay Aiken has been prescribed anti-anxiety medication Paxil after struggling to come to terms with his fame.

The singer insists he has no problems stepping up on stage and performing in front of thousands but he suffers panic attacks in more intimate settings.

He says, "I'd walk into a room and say to myself, 'I am not going to have a problem when these people stare at me.' But then... my heart would start pumping and I'd start sweating and looking around nervously and shaking.

"I felt like I was going to have a heart attack."

The singer admits his new medication has become a lifesaver: "Now, I can sit here; I can go into a store; I can handle a photo shoot. I'm able to get rid of all that stuff in the periphery. It makes everything easier."