Jonah Hill’s decision to step back from film promotion put language to something many people live with every day: the pressure of being perceived can feel unbearable, especially when anxiety is already running in the background.
When you experience social anxiety, the most challenging moments are not always the “big” ones. Sometimes, it’s the interviews, the crowds, the expectations, and the feeling that you have to hold it together while your nervous system is doing the opposite.
At Neurotherapeutix in New York City, we use fMRI-guided TMS therapy and fMRI-based computational brain mapping to better understand the brain circuits involved in anxiety and create individualized treatment plans.
To learn more about personalized care for anxiety, contact our team or continue reading below.
Why Jonah Hill stepped back from Hollywood
Public-facing pressure can look glamorous from the outside, but it can be physically and emotionally taxing, especially if you’re already managing anxiety.
According to a report and open letter published in Deadline in 2022, Hill shared that he has spent nearly 20 years experiencing anxiety attacks that are exacerbated by media appearances and public-facing events. He explained that stepping back from promoting films was a way to protect his mental health while staying true to the purpose of his work, including Stutz, a documentary centered on therapy tools and mental health discussions.
When someone with global visibility names anxiety this directly, it reinforces an important point: social anxiety is not about “toughening up.” It often reflects how the brain and body respond to stress, evaluation, and perceived threat.
Social anxiety in the spotlight
Social anxiety can exist at any career level, but when your job includes being watched, interviewed, and discussed, the symptoms can feel harder to avoid and harder to hide.
How fame intensifies social anxiety symptoms
Fame can create a constant sense of observation. Even when nothing “bad” is happening, your brain may stay on alert, scanning for judgment, criticism, or missteps. If you already struggle with social anxiety, high exposure can intensify physical symptoms like a racing heart, nausea, shaking, sweating, or feeling mentally blank.
The pressure of celebrity culture and public expectations
In public-facing work, it’s not only your performance that can be evaluated. It can feel like your appearance, tone, and personality are under review, too. That pressure can reinforce avoidance and hypervigilance, which may keep anxiety cycles going over time.
What Jonah Hill’s story reveals about Hollywood’s mental health climate
Hill’s openness reflects a broader shift toward normalizing mental health boundaries. It also highlights a truth many people need to hear: stepping back can be a form of strength. When you reduce exposure to triggers, you create space to pursue support and build tools that make daily life feel more manageable.
Understanding social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder goes beyond occasional nerves. It can create persistent fear of scrutiny that affects work, relationships, school, and everyday tasks—even when you deeply want connection.
Core symptoms and how they impact daily life
Social anxiety symptoms can include:
- • Fear of being judged, embarrassed, or “doing something wrong”
- • Avoiding social settings, presentations, or public conversations
- • Replaying interactions afterward and feeling intense self-criticism
- • Physical symptoms (blushing, a racing heart, sweating, trembling, or stomach discomfort)
- • Feeling “stuck” or unable to speak when attention is on you
Over time, you may shrink your life to avoid anxiety triggers, even when avoidance doesn’t match your goals.
Why social anxiety often goes untreated
Social anxiety can be easy to minimize because it’s often invisible. You may appear “fine” while quietly struggling, or you may avoid situations so effectively that others never see the full impact.
Some people also worry that seeking help will make them feel exposed or judged, which can delay care.
Traditional treatment options and their limitations
Traditional treatment for social anxiety disorder often includes therapy, medication, or both. These approaches can help many people, but some individuals still experience persistent symptoms, side effects, or limited relief. Others want additional options that focus more directly on brain-based patterns involved in fear response and emotional regulation.
The emerging role of fMRI-guided TMS therapy for anxiety
If you feel caught in a cycle of avoidance, dread, and physical anxiety symptoms, it can help to know that newer, non-invasive approaches are designed to look deeper than symptoms alone.
fMRI-guided TMS therapy is a non-invasive treatment that focuses on how your brain regulates fear, stress, and emotional responses, using individualized data rather than standardized treatment assumptions.
At Neurotherapeutix, this approach allows anxiety care to be guided by your unique brain connectivity patterns, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
What is fMRI-guided TMS therapy, and how does it work?
fMRI-guided TMS therapy combines transcranial magnetic stimulation with fMRI-based computational brain mapping.
Functional MRI is used first to identify the specific neural circuits involved in anxiety-related symptoms, such as threat detection, emotional regulation, and cognitive control.
Once these circuits are identified, magnetic stimulation is applied with millimeter-level precision to target the networks most relevant to your symptoms.
Unlike medication, this approach does not affect your entire system. Instead, it is designed to support the brain regions and connections that directly regulate anxiety.
Evidence supporting fMRI-guided TMS therapy for social anxiety disorder
Research into TMS for anxiety continues to grow, with evidence suggesting that targeted neuromodulation may help reduce anxiety symptoms for many patients. fMRI-guided approaches build on this foundation by personalizing stimulation targets based on each individual’s brain connectivity.
Because social anxiety disorder can involve different neural patterns from person to person, individualized targeting may help explain why some people respond better to personalized approaches than to protocol-based treatment alone.
Outcomes vary, but most patients experience meaningful symptom improvement when treatment aligns closely with their brain’s functional networks.
The benefits of fMRI-guided TMS therapy for those seeking non-medication treatment
Many people explore fMRI-guided TMS therapy because they want options beyond medication, or because medication and therapy have not provided enough relief.
This approach may be worth considering if you:
- • Prefer a non-medication option for anxiety support
- • Have not responded fully to medication or traditional therapy
- • Want a non-invasive treatment guided by brain function
- • Are interested in care that focuses on the neural circuits driving symptoms
By tailoring stimulation to your brain’s specific connectivity patterns, treatment can feel more precise and intentional.
Why are more patients turning to personalized, non-invasive options?
Non-invasive therapies are appealing when you want care that feels both evidence-based and individualized. For many patients, fMRI-guided TMS therapy offers a way to address anxiety at the circuit level while still complementing therapy, coping strategies, and lifestyle support.
This personalized approach reflects a broader shift in mental health care—one that recognizes that every brain is different and that treatment should reflect that individuality rather than relying solely on standardized protocols.
How fMRI-guided TMS therapy could support people like Jonah Hill
When social or public-facing situations trigger anxiety attacks, it can help to look beyond surface-level stress and understand what is happening inside the brain. For many people, social anxiety is associated with overactive threat-response networks and reduced regulation in circuits responsible for calming, emotional balance, and perspective-taking.
At Neurotherapeutix, fMRI-guided TMS therapy uses computational brain mapping to identify the specific neural connectivity patterns contributing to anxiety symptoms. This allows treatment to focus on the circuits most closely tied to fear, avoidance, and emotional reactivity, rather than relying on standardized stimulation sites used in protocol-based approaches.
By supporting healthier communication between these networks, fMRI-guided TMS therapy may help reduce symptom intensity and improve emotional regulation over time. This personalized approach is designed to meet you where you are, without pressure or promises.
Visit Neurotherapeutix in NYC: Leaders in fMRI-guided TMS therapy for anxiety relief
Choosing care for social anxiety can feel overwhelming, especially if previous treatments haven’t brought the relief you hoped for. You deserve an approach that is thoughtful, data-informed, and grounded in both science and compassion.
Neurotherapeutix is located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and is the first and only clinic in the United States offering patented fMRI-guided TMS therapy. Our team combines advanced neuroimaging with expert-led care to create treatment plans that reflect each individual’s brain connectivity and symptom profile.
If you are exploring personalized treatment for social anxiety disorder, our team is here to help you understand your options and determine whether fMRI-guided TMS therapy may support your goals. Contact us to learn more about our services or request an appointment now to get started.
Frequently asked questions
Understanding your options can help you feel more confident about your next steps. Below are answers to common questions about social anxiety and fMRI-guided TMS therapy.
Can social anxiety become more severe due to fame or public pressure?
Yes. Increased exposure, constant evaluation, and public scrutiny can intensify anxiety symptoms, particularly for individuals who already experience heightened fear of judgment or performance-related stress.
Is fMRI-guided TMS therapy effective specifically for social anxiety disorder?
fMRI-guided TMS therapy has shown success for many patients with anxiety symptoms by targeting the neural circuits involved in fear and emotional regulation. Outcomes vary, and treatment is tailored based on each person’s brain connectivity patterns.
How long does it take to see results from fMRI-guided TMS therapy for anxiety?
Some individuals notice changes within several weeks, while others may need a longer course of treatment. Your timeline depends on symptom severity, brain connectivity, and the personalized treatment plan developed for you.
Can fMRI-guided TMS therapy help if medications haven’t worked for social anxiety?
Yes. Many patients explore fMRI-guided TMS therapy after medication or traditional treatment has not provided sufficient relief. This approach offers a non-medication option guided by functional brain data.
Is fMRI-guided TMS therapy safe for long-term anxiety treatment?
fMRI-guided TMS therapy is non-invasive and is considered safe when administered by experienced clinicians. Your care team will review your medical history and discuss potential risks and benefits before treatment begins.
Do I need a referral to start fMRI-guided TMS therapy in NYC?
A referral is not required. You can contact Neurotherapeutix directly to learn more about the evaluation process and determine next steps.

