Even reading about Macaulay's troubled life and strange upbringing is a rollercoaster ride. Imagine actually being Macaulay Culkin! Whether it's from this childhood, or because of it, Macaulay has now diagnosed himself as being an agoraphobic - i.e., having a fear of crowded places or difficult situations. Like any of the other phobias, it's an anxiety disorder which can be especially debilitating. Agoraphobia affects about 1.7% of adults. The condition often begins in early adulthood and becomes less common in old age. It is rare in children.
The word itself comes from "agora" - the Greek word for a marketplace. If you can imagine yourself in a big, bustling marketplace, trapped and unable to get out, that's the kind of feeling that agoraphobia sufferers have. Whether it's on packed public transport or in front of a horde of paparazzi, the situations can get incredibly unpleasant, and very rapidly.