Dr. Jordan B. Peterson is taking time off from his podcasts and public appearances to recover from a genetic “immune system dysfunction” that flared up recently.
Peterson’s daughter, Mikhaila, gave an update on Peterson’s heath in an X post on Wednesday. Mikhaila revealed that her father had recently been diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, or CIRS, although he has suffered from it much longer.
CIRS “causes the immune system to have an inability to identify and detoxify mold/bacteria in indoor air (the genetic predisposition is not that rare, it’s in about 25% of people but he has a severe version),” Mikhaila explained.
“Over the last year or so he’s been feeling the impact of CIRS more and more. Recently he was exposed to a particularly moldy environment while helping clean out my grandfather’s house after he passed away which severely flared symptoms,” she said.
The Daily Wire responded to Mikhaila Peterson’s post about her father: “Dr. Peterson has helped millions of people across the globe navigate the toughest of circumstances, this is our opportunity to return the favor. Please join the Daily Wire team in sending prayers and well wishes as he takes the necessary time to rest and recover. Like the rest of you, we eagerly await his return to bringing you his wisdom and guidance when he has made a full recovery.”
Dr. Peterson has helped millions of people across the globe navigate the toughest of circumstances, this is our opportunity to return the favor. Please join the Daily Wire team in sending prayers and well wishes as he takes the necessary time to rest and recover. Like the rest of… https://t.co/0M9IxTgB0H
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) August 14, 2025
Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro also offered prayers:
Dr. Peterson is not just a mentor and colleague, he is a dear friend. I am praying for his speedy recovery and sending my best to his family. Refuah shelaima! https://t.co/cln1WlXnQn
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 14, 2025
Peterson’s flareup with CIRS has been behind a slate of canceled appearances and his recent “run-down” look and “general weepiness” from pain. The popular psychologist is undergoing treatment for the disorder, and while he is responding well, recovery has been “pretty rough,” Mikhaila said.
On Peterson’s behalf, Mikhaila apologized to people who bought tickets to Peterson’s event in Brazil that he had to cancel and to fans in Europe for having to move the date of his European tour.
While he is in recovery, new episodes of Peterson’s latest series with The Daily Wire, “Answer the Call,” will be available on YouTube.
Peterson has suffered with CIRS badly since 2017, though doctors for years could not accurately diagnose his chronic health problems.
“The fact that doctors don’t generally recognize that mold exposure in indoor air is causing chronic health issues is insane. The fact that this is the cause behind our food sensitivities and inability to tolerate anything other than meat (for 8 years now), multiple disorders and diseases in my family, and is virtually unrecognized by the medical community, is absurd,” Mikhaila said.
“This indoor air quality problem that causes Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome will be commonly diagnosed in the next 5-10 years. I am positive about that,” she added.
Hey guys, @jordanbpeterson is taking some time off of everything.
He was diagnosed with CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) due to a genetic predisposition that causes the immune system to have an inability to identify and detoxify mold/bacteria in indoor air (the…
— Mikhaila Peterson (@MikhailaFuller) August 13, 2025