I used to ask these same kind of questions on PH, and would get these unrealistic answers, so I hope I'm providing an answer to you so you don't feel so alone. In reality, life is easier if you are albe to have an occasional drink everyone now and then. Especially if you want to grow as a person, you are going to need to make new friends, business ones usually, and alcohol is going to be there and how you act around it is going to matter, just being truthful. It annoys me to hear "don't drink" as an answer, that's not what your looking for. Truth is, the majority of people in normal situations a least drink a little, and so many places, atmospheres, people are going to be drinking, so we would just like to be able to drink some, and not be so hungover. My tip: get a juicer, make a mostly vegetables juice with some fruit, include ginger. This seems to help the healing process and bring back some vitality, but I don't know a cure, but I don't think to swear off drinking is good, I tried it, and all it did was remove me from friends.

Ummm .... Don't consume alcohol! Seriously, if you're aware of such predictably negative outcomes, why drink? This is not a judgment on drinking but rather that if ANY activity reproducibly effects you in such a negative fashion, why do it?

You might be depressed because you went out drinking and woke up alone ;)

I haven't ever met someone who WASN'T depressed during a hangover. Who can be all happy and sunshiny with a hangover?

I experienced this pretty often when I was younger, usually had a feeling of dread for most of the day.

But, I remember hearing that since Alcohol is a CNS (central nervous system) depressant, that it also causes depressive symptoms. But thinking a little more about it, it's probably not that, but that it's most likely changing the levels of serotonin or dopamine in your brain. Doing a quick Google (alcohol serotonin depletion) turns up hits on serotonin deficiency and alcoholism, so I think we have the link there.

Long story short: Alcohol consumption depletes serotonin levels (after the intoxication wears off, of course)

As others have said alcohol is a depressant. What ever that means. Also from my experience when I drink I stay up later than usual and get really bad sleep. This may have something to do with it, lack of sleep has the same effect.

If your depression lasts AFTER your hangover dissipates, try 5-HTP and more easily digested proteins into your diet (egg yolks, whey, etc.)

I wonder if temporary b-vitamin deficiency is at play.

I many times find myself avoiding social situations that take place at a bar or are with people who drink heavily because I also get very depressed when hung over and it is not "feeling guilty". It is the same kind of depression I get when I try to quit caffeine and when I quit smoking years ago. For this reason I tend to believe this depression is related to a decrease in dopamine.

A little hair of the dog will cure all your problems....

Just kidding don't be an alcoholic for more than four years or so during college....after that it gets to be counterproductive.

I do think it's the nature of the beast - all things considered from a psychological/nutritional aspect.

I will say I know exactly what you mean - it is not just the physical symptoms, but some added emotional element. Existential. Edgy. From what I understand - at least in alcoholics - this whole syndrome is part of the cycle, the high that guarantees that low. There have been a few psychologists out there who have tried to tackle this - sorry, I don't have any book titles. You can easily search this. Years ago I wondered at - (not so much my drinking, though clearly enough often enough to have a hangover that created the curiosity)- this existential quality & found a few interesting books - just been years now & I don't remember off the top of my head.

It seems the idea of some archetypal 'initiation' theme was prominent in these books.

Alcohol is a neurotoxin (which basically sounds as bad as it is and explains why it makes you feel like crap). It gives me anxiety for days after a bender.

Relevant:

http://www.bulletproofexec.com/alcohol-without-the-hangover-bulletproof-partying-business-networking/