(LifeSiteNews) — Psychologist and author Dr. Jordan B. Peterson is suffering from a psych medication-induced neurological injury causing severe akathisia, according to his daughter, Mikhaila Peterson.
In an emotional 35-minute video posted to social media on Saturday, the young mother, who also shared being 25 weeks’ pregnant, explained how her father’s condition has dramatically impacted their family for the past year despite Peterson having been off all psychiatric medications for more than six years.
Last October, Mikhaila asked for prayers for her father amid his debilitating neurological health issues.
The commentator who was propelled to fame after he opposed a Canadian law compelling speech recognizing preferred gender pronouns had been hospitalized and forced to cancel speaking engagements indefinitely.
READ: Jordan Peterson needs prayers as he battles serious health issues, daughter Mikhaila says
At the time, Mikhaila said, “We’re not entirely sure what’s going on, but it looks like possibly severe CIRS and a LOT of bad luck. Or we’re getting spiritually attacked. Or both.”
In her Saturday update, she wrote in an accompanying post how they “figured out that dad has a psych med induced neurological injury and has been suffering from akathisia.”
“It’s been 6 years since any psych medications. Last summer his symptoms started, after a flare up likely induced by mold (CIRS) and stress. It was complicated by pneumonia and associated sepsis a month later,” she said. “It’s been horrible.”
We figured out that dad has a psych med induced neurological injury, and has been suffering from akathisia. It’s been 6 years since any psych medications. Last summer his symptoms started, after a flare up likely induced by mold (CIRS) and stress. It was complicated by pneumonia… pic.twitter.com/wPjAz4XsLT
— Mikhaila Peterson (@MikhailaFuller) April 18, 2026
Mikhaila described akathisia — an often-misunderstood neurological state of intolerable inner restlessness, sensory overload, and profound discomfort — as devastating.
“Akathisia is the worst thing I’ve ever seen anyone go through. That sounds dramatic, but it’s true,” she said. “It’s catastrophic … A lot of people don’t survive it and there’s no quick fix.”
She explained that such injuries stem from long-term use of psychiatric drugs that can trigger mitochondrial dysfunction and leave lasting neurological vulnerabilities. These can remain dormant for years before flaring due to triggers like environmental mold exposure (chronic inflammatory response syndrome, or CIRS), extreme stress, or serious illness.
Mikhaila emphasized that these harms are far more common than acknowledged and are frequently misdiagnosed as a return of the original psychiatric condition.
“Neurological injuries from psych meds are far more common than people know,” she noted in her post. “I made this video to explain what they are and what akathisia is because they’re not talked about enough, they’re misdiagnosed, nearly impossible to treat, and hidden by the pharmaceutical industry.”
Drawing from her own history, Mikhaila shared that she endured severe SSRI withdrawal symptoms — including akathisia-like effects — after stopping Lexapro about a decade ago. These grave difficulties lasted roughly 2 1/2 years and left her nearly disabled.
She credits a ketogenic diet that evolved into a strict carnivore diet with aiding her recovery by providing alternative fuel for damaged mitochondria. She referenced studies linking mitochondrial dysfunction to psychiatric disorders and psychotropic medications as well as research supporting ketogenic diets for refractory mental illness.
Mikhaila issued a clear warning to those currently stable on psychiatric medications, especially long-term benzodiazepines: “If you’ve been taking a psych med … and are stable, don’t feel pressured to taper. Do your research, but don’t get concerned from this video and destabilize a stable situation without knowing the risks.”
To help others, she launched prescribed-harm.com, a new resource site featuring patient testimonies, scientific papers on akathisia, mitochondrial toxicity, mold illness, safe tapering protocols, and dietary interventions. She plans to advocate vigorously for greater awareness of psych med harms but does not plan to share further personal updates on her father’s condition to spare the family additional stress.
“Prayers are appreciated still,” she concluded.
Peterson has described himself as a classical liberal, and despite his heavy focus on Scriptural exegesis during his career, he is not a Christian or even has a firm belief in God, though he “tries to live as though God is real.”
His wife, Tammy, is a Catholic convert. Her conversion occurred after a miraculous recovery from a cancer with a terminal prognosis, a healing that she attributed to God’s intervention.
