Some types of stress are definitely damaging. Stress can be damaging to your psyche and it can damage you physically. No one wants the kind of prolonged stress that comes with financial struggles, living in broken or violent homes, having jobs that do not fulfill you, or dealing with personal loss. That definitely causes a level of negative and damaging stress which can shave years of one's life.
On the other hand, there are also good types of pressure that keeps you active both mentally and physically, and does not drain or hold you back with negativity.
An example of a physical stress that might positively benefit you is possibly joining a recreational sports league or an outdoor club. You may find yourself being put through a number of physical rigors, but you will at the same time find group acceptance and a feeling of belonging to something greater than yourself. The exercise and consistent activity will also likely to cause you to simply feel better on a daily basis by helping you release endorphins.
An example of a mental or emotional stress that can help add years to your life and slow down the aging process is something that gets you to be creative. This is different for many people and matches individual personalities. For example, some people love learning new languages. The learning process is never-ending and it is always as challenging as you want it to be since you are doing it for yourself.
People can take this as far as they want. While learning a language does not have to be too stressful, some people prefer starting companies. That is quite contrasted from simply learning a new language. It is infinitely more stressful, but people with strong competitive spirits may find that level of stress to be properly challenging to their emotional needs.
