dear Carly, 

i experienced a similar epiphany after removal of dairy from my diet in October of 2010.  people think that i'm crazy for citing this as rationale for maintenance of my Ex-Bulimic life, but it's so true. (i was hardcore Bulimic for 11 years, and much of my binge/purge food was dairy-based).  removal of dairy has not only affected me emotionally, but it's also trimmed my waist, cleared my skin, and allowed me to truly demonstrate respect for the beautiful cows.  i'm sure you feel like me: alicia is a true heroine!  welcome to the dairy free club, girlfriend.  :) x

nicole at www.nicoleandgwendolyn.com 

That is amazing! We (humans in general) really need to appreciate the effect food has on our bodies and our well-being. Congratulations to Carly since a lot of us appreciate how hard it is to give up dairy! 

Diet, Stress and how we think are all environmental influences on who we are. It affects our health, both physical and mental. There is a new field of biology called epigenetics that states our genes do nothing until they are turned on. Diet, stress and thinking turn genes ON/OFF. I BLOG about this and have written a book on it see http://georgefebish.wordpress.com

Carly,

I'm reading this and it is truly hitting home! I have been dealing with anxiety and depression most of my life. I think giving up dairy may be the answer. Dairy is the one thing I am having a hard time giving up. I've given up all animal products but dairy. Think I am going to remove dairy and hopefully this will help!

Congratulations Carly!!! Just more proof that we're not meant to eat dairy.  When I eat it, I break out all over my face and that was enough for me to kick it straight out of my diet. Also, a big thank you to Alicia for introducing me to the Kind Diet, I am now a Vegan and loving it and I find that I love cooking and baking more then ever!  

@maria resinski, i love your comment on this post!  i PROMISE!  you shall NOT be disappointed through elimination of diary!  you can experience all of the same dairy wonders through the vegan equivalent. x

I had a similar experience on giving up dairy. In my case, the problem was hormonal and at various points in my cycle I was practically insane. As soon as I gave up dairy, all my hormonal issues resolved! (I think it's all the hormones they're feeding the cows.) I'm so much more balanced and happy than I was, and my hubby is sure grateful!

Congrats, Carly! I'm so happy for you!

That's amazing, Carly!  I found out I had food allergies too, and have been telling people about how eliminating those foods (for me, it was foods like nuts and citrus) has helped me so much emotionally, as well as physically.  It's really nice to know that someone else has had a similar experience, because it sounds crazy, but it's absolutely true!

Yeah! I am so happy for you:-) I have been vegan for a little over a year now and I actually ate a small amount of dairy over the holidays and boy can I tell the difference. My body was not happy with me! I don't think the cows liked me much either! Dairy free is where it is at......

Alicia rocks....so many lives changed and touched forever!

That is amazing! i wish i could share this with several people i know. Let me know if its ok to do that. I for the past 2-3 years had been struggling too. Even my small group at church noticed a difference over the years. I've been animal free for just over a month and i can tell you it has made a huge difference in my life. My husband and 2 girls are enjoying the cooking and it has been such an amazing transition for our family it truly has been a blessing! Thank you for sharing. 

Any suggestions for removing dairy from a 7year old girl's diet, whose favorite food is yogurt, cheese, and half and half?  She only likes yogurt made from cow's milk.  I've tried several other types, and she will only eat the dairy yogurt.  There are so few things that she likes to eat, that she practically lives on yogurt.  I do buy organic, and try to have it naturally sweetened.  But I worry that all that dairy is not good for her.  When she was a baby, and I would eat dairy, she would throw up afterwards.  She is an extremely fussy eater.  Could that actually be caused by the dairy?

I'm so glad to read this. I'm suffering from EXACTLY what you've described. When i was a baby, my body didn't like milk, so i drank apple juice. I have always suffered from depression...even in elementary school. I've been on and off meds, I've been diagnosed bipolar, then told that was the wrong diagnosis. Now I'm OCD.  I just spent the last 7 months, getting off my meds, which i don't think did much but numb my true feelings so i could "get by" and "get along with others". I'm off meds now, and a raging lunatic. Very emotional, very angry very very. My dad always called me over sensitive...I've just started therapy and EMDR, but I'm going to rededicate myself to doing it full out 100% because I want what you have, emotional stability.

Congratulations, Carly! I'm so glad you figured out what your body needed to heal itself! Best of luck on your healing journey!

Wow this makes a lot of sense!  I bet it is all the hormones and antibiotics given to the cows that can affect someones emotions and hormonal balance.  Our family will definitely be easing into eliminating dairy.

Congratulations!!That is so great you went vegan, I know how hard it can be to over come a cheese addiction. Cheese was the hardest thing to get past but now they have daiya cheese so I dont miss cheese at all. Best of luck to you on your journey to great health!!