Even posts on technical topics can drive harmful comparisons. I went through a period of social isolation and HN was an escape. OPs and commenters became the

Even posts on technical topics can drive harmful comparisons. I went through a period of social isolation and HN was an escape. OPs and commenters became the closest thing to peers that I had. Those peers were consistently perceived as smarter and more motivated than me, and my already poor self esteem continued to decline. Now that I'm working full-time onsite again, the bar set by my physical peers is much more achievable than what folks on HN acheive. HN might be better than tiktok, but 5 hours a day of either is bad for your soul. Physically being around and working with others is vital to most people's mental health, even introverts like me that feel like avoidance is the most appealing path. Tangentially - if you struggle with feelings that point you in directions you know are bad, be very careful if you engage with the mental healthcare system.