Would like to know if it's my herpes prodromal symptoms that cause me stress or the other way around?

It's the stress: Herpes unfortunately 'hides' in the nerve roots and waits for the 'right time' to come out. There's usually some type of stress that triggers it, since the immune system lets down its guard, and then the herpes virus has a party at your expense. Best to AVOID stress in all forms - arguing, road rage, financial worries, smoking, alcohol, lack of sleep, injuries, etc. Easy to list, hard to practice