To wonder if 'dairy withdrawal' is a real thing or a load of tosh?

[lougle]

When I was young I was allergic to dairy (immediate vomiting on ingestion, hives, etc.) Gradually it was reintroduced when I was around 8/9. All good.

I've had chronic migraine for about 12 years -started after taking the combined pill but didn't improve once I stopped.

I did some reading and saw the link with intolerance, so thought I would check it out by going dairy free for several weeks.

I'm on day 4 and I'm a complete mess. Craving all manner of dairy products. Crying at the drop of a hat. Exhausted and sluggish. Two hellish Migraines on two consecutive days. Completely overreacted to bad behaviour earlier andended up sobbing that they'd all be better off without me! (I'm not usually depressive).

Could this be withdrawal symptoms or do I just need to pull myself together somehow?

I have not heard of dairy withdrawal symptoms (although it may exist). How much dairy did you used to eat? Do you eat many other forms of protein? I'm wondering if it could be that you've cut a lot of protein out of our diet and now you're not in-taking enough (should aim to eat 1g of protein for 1kg of weight) protein. Some of the symptoms of protein deficiency include:
Crankiness, moodiness
Problems with conflict resolution
Severe depression
Anxiety
Lack of energy, no desire to do things

That said I'm not sure you would be feeling the symptoms that soon.

Withdrawal of casein ( a protein in milk) can cause symptoms.

I've never heard of dairy withdrawal, how much were you eating before?

I didn't think I had too much until I stopped it and everything I thought of eating had some dairy content!

Milk -cereal, tea, sauces, etc.
Butter - biscuits, pastry.
Margarine - cakes, toast, etc.
Cheese - lots.

Protein wise, it is possible, I guess. Although I am a carnivore so I've had meat and fish as usual, plus hummus, etc.

Don't caseins act like opiates? That's why I am addicted to delicious cheese.

Yes they do mrsTP it is the reason for cheese and chocolate addiction!