Episode 87: Judy Krasna, Executive Director of F.E.A.S.T., discusses parenting a child with an eating disorder

During this episode, we talked to Judy Krasna, Executive Director of F.E.A.S.T, a global community of parents, and those who support parents of individuals experiencing eating disorders. Judy is the mother of four, mother-in-law of two, and grandmother of three. She is a writer and an eating disorders parent advocate in Israel, where she lives. Judy has been an active volunteer in F.E.A.S.T. and in the Academy for Eating Disorders and is passionate about helping families of people with eating disorders, especially after her daughter Gavriella took her own life after a fierce and prolonged battle with anorexia. In this interview, Judy shares what it's like to advocate for better treatment and care and describes ways caretakers can be an active part of the treatment team. She creates space to normalize the challenges, pain, and often negative thinking which caregivers and parents can experience with a child or dependent with an eating disorder, and explains that is okay to be afraid, nervous, angry, and hurt, and that there are resources -- like F.E.A.S.T. -- available to help manage these emotions and thoughts, and navigate the complex and often overwhelming eating disorder treatment space. We are grateful for her time, energy, vulnerability, and knowledge. Have a listen!

CW: suicidal ideation, suicide, eating disorders, eating disorder behaviors, self-harm behaviors, eating disorder treatment experiences