A prolonged and painful health struggle has forced Jordan Peterson out of the public eye, with his family now revealing the extent of what he is enduring behind the scenes.
According to the New York Post, the clinical psychologist, known for his lectures and widely followed podcast, has recently stepped away from recording, sparking concern and speculation among fans.
His wife, Tammy Peterson, said the reason is a serious neurological condition tied to past medical treatment.
“Dr. Peterson is at home with family and helpful companions,” Tammy reported. “His mornings are brutally painful and discouraging for him. Later, much later in the day, he sometimes feels some relief.”
According to his family, the condition stems from prior use of psychiatric medication, specifically the benzodiazepine Klonopin.
Peterson had taken the drug during a difficult period when Tammy was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2019.
Coming off the medication triggered severe withdrawal symptoms.
Tammy said he later developed tardive akathisia, a chronic condition marked by intense restlessness and a compulsive need to move.
“The damage done from psych medications from over six years ago takes patience, time and loving attention,” Tammy, 65, said.
“There are many testimonials written by people who have suffered from psych medication damage… The medical industry will have to face this evidence and take steps to protect the public from harm.”
She added that benzodiazepines “should only be used in lifesaving cases.”
Peterson himself previously described the ordeal during a 2022 conversation with Joe Rogan.
“I was in excruciating pain for two years, like pain on levels that I didn’t know was possible,” he said.
Family friend Jonathan Pageau offered insight into Peterson’s day-to-day condition, describing a cycle of limited function and severe discomfort.
“Good days look like struggle and pain, but he’s still capable of taking walks, working on projects and having good conversations, just with difficulty and never for long,” he said. “Bad days are constant pain and akathisia. He struggles to focus on anything and lapses into discouragement and despair.”
Tammy also pushed back on rumors surrounding his health, including claims tied to treatments from Adeel Khan.
She said Peterson never received stem cell infusions from Khan and that a localized injection in 2023 caused no side effects. The sepsis he experienced, she clarified, was contracted during an ICU stay in Switzerland while being treated for pneumonia.
“This is a rumor that detracts from the actual issue at hand, [which is] akathisia,” Tammy added.
She also dismissed claims about the family’s living situation as “clickbait and untrue,” noting they reside in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
For now, Peterson is not preparing a return to public life.
“He is not talking about going back to work yet,” Tammy said, adding that he “feels as if he’s in another realm of pain.”
“He misses the opportunity to weigh in on societal issues,” she said.
