Sharing lived experience to improve mental health access.

Nick Norman, United States

Helping organizations improve environments, programs, and products for people experiencing agoraphobia and anxiety.

Latest Publication: Anxiety in the Waiting Room — How Clinical Environments Affect Patient Trust 

About This Work

Nick builds trust in spaces where it is often hardest to earn. He draws from lived experience with agoraphobia, trauma, and recovery from a traumatic brain injury to help others understand how anxiety is actually experienced in everyday environments.

In his Living With Agoraphobia project, Nick offers unfiltered insight into what anxiety feels like in everyday environments. With more than 100 entries, his writing serves as a resource for people living with anxiety, those who support them, and professionals seeking a clearer understanding of lived reality. 

In addition to his writing, Nick has contributed to large public-facing projects, including work with the Internet Archive, Open Library, and UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies Library, where collaboration, trust, and community engagement are central.


Speaking Topics

 Nick offers two core talks tailored to different audiences.
What Agoraphobia Actually Looks Like Day to Day: A lived-experience talk exploring what it means to navigate anxiety across everyday life, work, relationships, and public settings.

Designing Anxiety-Aware Environments That Improve Access and Engagement:  A systems-focused talk for organizations exploring how environments, programs, and products, can better support people living with anxiety and other mental health challenges.


What Brings You Here?

If you’re interested in inviting Nick to speak, explore a workshop, or talk through a collaboration, please reach him using this form:
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How Can Nick Help?
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Film, Documentary, or Media Projects
Research Projects, Programs, or Community Work
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