Why You're Always Bracing (And Why It Makes Sense) Amy Tria, 2/24/2026 In my work, I rarely meet women who are simply anxious. More often, I meet women whose systems are bracing as a way of life. By bracing, I do not mean a metaphor. I mean the subtle tightening of the body and mind in anticipation of impact, the shoulders that never fully drop, the jaw that firms before you speak, the breath that shortens when you sense a shift in someone's tone, the mental rehearsal before