Can Twilight’s Robert Pattinson Handle The Pressure?

The scene at the Twilight premiere in LA on November 17 looked much like it does everywhere else Robert Pattinson goes these days: a sea of screaming fans all focused on him. But rather than bask in the spotlight, Robert, 22, seemed dazed and overwhelmed, which has become his typical reaction. “This is my life,” he said wearily. “People ambush me in public and ask me to bite them and want to touch my hair.” The attention terrifies Robert, who has confessed to suffering from such intense crowd anxiety that he’s had “massive panic attacks” before book signings and even at the supermarket. He shared similar fears with his reps before the promotional tour. “I said, ‘I just don’t want to get shot or stabbed,’” he reports. “I don’t want someone to have a needle and I’ll get AIDS.” Though she doesn’t treat him, Dr. Gilda Carle, founder of drgilda.com, recognizes the warning signs. “His panic is telling him he can’t deal with this. He’s at risk for a crash,” she says, adding that he needs to learn to cope before it’s too late. Twilight author Stephenie Meyer is worried, too. “I don’t think he’s ready to be the ‘It Guy,’” she says. “The transition is going to be a little rocky.” He’s doing his best, but Robert still stresses that success could ruin him. “That’s always a distinct possibility,” he admits.