Carrie Underwood Talks Panic Attacks

She has a killer career and a wonderfully romantic new marriage, and Carrie Underwood knows she has a lot to be thankful for.

And in a recent interview, the “Before He Cheats” songstress shared that she hasn’t always been on top of her game- back in high school she struggled with panic attacks.

Carrie explained, "I'm a big personal space person. You know, if you go to the restroom, you use the stall that's not near anybody. Or if you're in the gym, you go to the treadmill where there's space in between you. And it seemed like in crowded situations like that, people would just completely violate your personal space.”

She added, "So, whenever I'd be in stores and there would be people touching me and kids running around, I couldn't take it and I'd have to leave," noting that Christmas shopping “seemed to be my worst nightmare.”

The key to Carrie’s balance, according to WebMD is a five-step process:

1. Work out. "Cardio makes me feel good, it makes me happy. It really makes a noticeable difference."

2. Eat healthy. "I'm not a huge pill taker, because I feel like our bodies are designed to take what we need out of food. So I don't want to make my body deficient and make it depend on what I take. I'd rather eat and drink things that are good for me."

3. Keep washing. "I'd rather take preventive measures than get sick and try to battle things off. So I do wash my hands quite a bit."

4. Get some rest. "I enjoy naps but only on days off, because I can take, like, a three-hour one. I'll take a nap if it's just a total rainy day off and there's nothing you can do anyway."

5. Give back. "People think, 'I don't have time to volunteer,' but there are little things you can do to make the world better and raise awareness, whatever your passion is. Like if you go to facebook.com/Pedigree, you can become a fan, and they'll donate a bowl of food to a shelter dog. That's a free meal, and it took 30 seconds of your life."