HabitAware was created from personal need.

Aneela & Sameer set out to understand her unwanted repetitive behavior, trichotillomania.
Along the way, they found a solution.

My Deepest Secret Revealed

Hi! I'm Aneela. I have trichotillomania. And for 20+ years, it was my greatest source of shame that I desperately worked to hide. I thought I was alone.

The first time I shared my secret with anyone was with my husband, Sameer.

After years of marriage, a morning finally came where I couldn't get to my eyebrow pencil fast enough. Sameer saw, and asked "where are your eyebrows?" and I broke down.

Instead of being met with disgust and judgement, Sameer met me with love, and the desire to understand. With Sameer by my side, I could suddenly do the impossible. I asked for help.

With support from trained treatment professionals, funding from the National Insititutes of Health, and input from the BFRB community our team to created a smart bracelet that brings awareness to where the hands are. With awareness, I could take back control.

As our company evolved, so did our understanding of BFRB recovery.

Our smart bracelet, Keen, allowed us to help tends of thousands of people with body-focused repetitive behaviors. Through our lived experience, serving our customers, and clinical research, we discovered:

The most effective way to soothe restless hands, is by soothing a restless mind.

Once we can understand ourselves and our chronic condition, we can learn to manage.

1 in 20 people have a body-focused repetitive behavior, but there is still so little talk of them in the mainstream mental health conversation.

To manage my chronic hair pulling, I committed myself to helping others manage. By turning my pain into my purpose, I was forced to let go of the shame that held me back for so long so that I could talk proudly about my mental health condition.

It was not easy.

Letting go of the shame allowed me to look at my recovery objectively, and address what was actually triggering my hair pulling: stress from work, lack of a sleep schedule, and an internalized belief that I was only as good as my ability to keep my hands out of my hair.

I'm so much more than that. And so are you. Through managing my hair pulling, I discovered my passion, my voice, and what genuinely made life worth living. Recovery through the HabitAware Methodology teaches you how to find your inner light, so that you can set down the shame of this disorder that does not define you.

Discover the Methodology

Shattering the BFRB Stigma: One Auditorium at a Time

HabitAware's mission is to raise awareness of Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (hair pulling (trichotillomania), skin picking (dermatillomania), nail biting) and other behaviors.

We are humbled to be a for voice for those that are not yet ready to speak out on how these disorders affect their lives.

We support the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, the Canadian BFRB Support Network, the PickingMe Foundation and Not Alone Notes in their efforts to support the community and fund research for a cure.

OUR TEAM

Aneela Idnani Kumar - HabitAware Team Aneela Idnani Kumar, Designer & "Trichster"
Aneela is the inspiration for HabitAware. She is a mobile app designer and has produced award-winning interactive advertising campaigns. Aneela has had trichotillomania for 20+ years and is excited to help others like her change their life.

Sameer Kumar - HabitAware Team Sameer Kumar, CEO
Sameer is data-driven, having worked in investment analysis, management consulting and corporate strategy. His favorite activities are cooking and playing legos with his son. Sameer is driven by the positive change he has seen in his wife, Aneela.

Kirk Klobe - HabitAware Team Kirk Klobe, CTO
Kirk has been fascinated with computers since childhood. He was integral to the launch of several IT consulting startups. Kirk can’t resist a good technical challenge, especially when the solution changes people’s lives.

John Pritchard - HabitAware Team John Pritchard, PhD, Lead Hardware Engineer
John is an inventor by nature and is fulfilling his dream of teaching at a university. He has worked in fiber optics and advanced military tech. He once made an LED light suit for fun. John is passionate about making things that are meaningful for others.

Ellen Crupi - HabitAware Team Ellen Crupi, Director of Business Development & Awareness
Ellen is a mental health activist committed to educating and reducing the stigma around mental health and BFRBs. A fellow "Trichster" of 30+ years, she cares deeply about her work and the community she serves. When she is not helping others find positive change with Keen, Ellen enjoys Barre classes and really good coffee.

Ellen Crupi - HabitAware Team Mari Larsen, Lead Designer & Marketing Coordinator
Mari is a graphic designer and illustrator. She aims to make positive change through her work and is delighted to do so for mental health and driving self-initiated growth. Especially since she has derma, but didn't even know that was a diagnosis until she started as an intern at HabitAware!

HabitAware was created from personal need.

My Deepest Secret Revealed

As our company evolved, so did our understanding of BFRB recovery.

Once we can understand ourselves and our chronic condition, we can learn to manage.

Shattering the BFRB Stigma: One Auditorium at a Time

HabitAware Keen Sizing Guide

Keen2

Sporty Keen (original)