Jordan Peterson’s absence from the public sphere has sparked ongoing speculation that the celebrity trend of online wellness practices may have played a role in his struggles.
The 63-year-old Canadian psychologist has shown interest in biohacking, influenced by health coaches promoting various extreme health regimens, like all-meat diets and stem cell injections, many of which aren’t approved in the United States.
His family asserts that his condition stems from akathisia, a movement disorder triggered by medication, causing intense restlessness.
They maintain that his issues arose from an addiction to benzodiazepines (often called benzos), psychoactive drugs including Valium and Klonopin, which he began using in 2017.
In 2020, Peterson announced he had detoxed from these substances after enduring severe withdrawal symptoms, following a rather unconventional treatment path.
In a bid to escape the grips of withdrawal, he traveled to a Russian clinic, where he underwent a procedure involving propofol—infamously known for being connected to Michael Jackson’s death—in order to enter a medically induced coma.
After a month in a Moscow hospital, he shared a photo of himself at Red Square with his daughter, showing he had returned home.
Subsequent to this, he went to Belgrade, Serbia, to another clinic focusing on neurological recovery, spending several months there. The facility prescribed him a complex mix of sedatives and antidepressants to mitigate the severe withdrawal effects. Reports also suggest they employed psychological strategies to foster a negative association with drugs.
In moments of family care, his daughter noted that he seemed “shocked” but was “starting to relax.”
Despite his past struggles, Peterson managed to secure a multi-million dollar deal with Daily Wire in 2022 and published another bestselling book, alongside launching an educational video platform called Peterson Academy.
However, three months after his last public appearance in May 2025, she revealed he was taking a break from work due to a serious flare-up of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). Shortly thereafter, he faced hospitalization for pneumonia and sepsis, with his family stating he had been “near death.”
The family clarified that the sepsis developed after he was intubated in Switzerland, quelling rumors linking it to a previous treatment he received from a Canadian doctor.
His wife, Tammy, was clear: “These claims are just rumors. There was no sepsis linked to any stem cell treatment.” She added that he hadn’t received such treatment during his stay in Switzerland, which also marked a significant point of contention.
His daughter claims exposure to toxic mold has exacerbated his akathisia, a condition he suffered from previously. Chronic cases of akathisia lasting over six months are said to be quite rare according to the National Institutes of Health.
There’s ongoing debate about stem cell therapies, as these aren’t sanctioned for pain or anti-aging in the U.S. or Canada, although they’ve risen in popularity among wellness influencers seeking the next big thing.
In a 2023 podcast episode, Peterson welcomed renowned longevity specialist Adeel Khan, disclosing that Khan treated him and his wife for chronic pain.
Khan, who operates Eterna Health, has notable connections, including ties with the Kardashian-Jenner family. However, his medical license has expired, raising questions about his practice.
While Eterna Health asserts its commitment to patient care, treatments that step outside FDA guidelines carry inherent risks. Experts warn that using unregulated intravenous therapies can have serious implications.
Amid growing speculation about Peterson’s health and treatment choices, his wife expressed fatigue over continuous rumors, insisting that the focus should be on understanding akathisia.
Interestingly enough, internal communications from a litigation process hinted at connections between wellness tourism and health complications plaguing some figures in Hollywood.
