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Chad Michael Murray, celebrated for his roles in iconic noughties productions like "Gilmore Girls" and "A Cinderella Story," recently opened up about his battle with agoraphobia during the height of his fame, particularly during his tenure on "One Tree Hill" as Lucas Scott.

Opening up about his struggles, Murray, 42, disclosed an incident in Miami when he was 23, where he found himself unable to leave his hotel room due to crippling anxiety attacks. "I had an event in Miami, but I couldn't leave my hotel room," Murray shared with The Cut.

"The world felt like it was closing in; I was having anxiety attacks," he added. "Everyone starts telling you "Yes," But I was walking around with a really pained heart."

Despite his on-screen success and heartthrob status, Murray admitted feeling "far more fragile than I ever put on," emphasizing the internal turmoil he faced amid external adulation.

Agoraphobia, characterized by the NHS as a fear of situations where escape might be difficult, is often misunderstood as a fear of open spaces but actually encompasses a broader range of anxieties related to public places.

The actor admitted that his agoraphobia became a hurdle for him. Finding solace in therapy and religion at 25, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery, reflecting on his life's direction and embracing faith as a guiding force.

"I woke up and felt unsettled. I didn't like the direction that I was going in my life," he recalled. "I went to church, and I got a tattoo of a cross on my left wrist, and I was like, I'm going to move myself in faith."

"I always told myself, 'I'm doing this for my future wife and kids,' and now here they are."

"It's been the greatest chapter of my life."

Beyond his personal struggles, Murray reminisced about his tumultuous health journey as a child, enduring surgery and a near-death experience due to internal bleeding, Metro reported.

Remarkably, an encounter with a nurse during his hospital stay paved the way for his eventual entry into Hollywood.