Mikhaila Peterson, daughter of psychologist and author Jordan Peterson, posted a personal video update on X, detailing her father’s ongoing health challenges.
In the video and accompanying post, she stated that the family has concluded Jordan Peterson is suffering from a psych medication-induced neurological injury, specifically akathisia. She explained:
“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 and associated sepsis a month later. It’s been horrible.”
Mikhaila emphasized that neurological injuries from psychiatric medications are far more common than commonly acknowledged. She created the video to raise awareness about these injuries and akathisia, noting that they are often misdiagnosed, extremely difficult to treat, and downplayed by the pharmaceutical industry.
Akathisia is a movement disorder characterized by a subjective feeling of inner restlessness and a compelling need to be in constant motion. The term comes from the Greek word akathisi, meaning "inability to sit."
While it might look like simple fidgeting to an observer, for the person experiencing it, it is often described as a form of "inner torture."
Akathisia is distinct from typical anxiety because it has a specific physical component.
- Physical Restlessness: Constant pacing, rocking from foot to foot, crossing and uncrossing legs, or inability to keep the feet still while sitting.
- Subjective Distress: A profound sense of unease, irritability, or "skin-crawling" tension.
- Severity: In extreme cases, the sensation is so distressing that it can lead to intense dark thoughts or a total inability to function.
She added that she does not plan to provide further personal updates about her father, as it causes significant stress to the family, and will instead focus on advocating for greater awareness of psych medication injuries.
