10 Answers

I have learned to face things head on and I meditate every morning... I also walk a lot... This helps to clear my head.

Lambshank, I can feel your frustration through this site.  My only suggestion is exercise and I know that you think that you don't have time to do that.  I guarantee, if you will start with a little time, spent on exercise (I suggest a walk outside...rain or shine) every morning (or whenever your day starts) it will change everything.  Spend 15 minutes on a walk, everyday, for one week and see.  You will stop spinning your wheels and get more done than usual, once you do start your day.  I don't really know why, but it does work!  Just try it please. Think of it this way...one quarter of an hour out of twenty four!!!!

Ducky

Yes. The combination of snacking and stress can cause a weight gain, for sure.

Decide what problem needs attention first Try to solve it.  If you can't move to the next item. Most things are not do or die! If you can't do it today, try tommorrow. They will wait!

Another thing that may help...if possible, make a list of things to do at work, before you leave for the day.  That way, you don't have those things spinning in your head, during your at-home time.  Of course, your list will get interrupted, but then, just get back to it.  Do the same thing before you leave again...make a new list for the following day. While you are at work, try not to think about what is next on the list...concentrate on the task at hand and realize that you can only do so much in a day!

Ducky

Yes. Keeping things as organized as you can, will also help with stress. Remember too...breathe!! Do you know that when people are stressed, they do not breathe properly but rather, take very shallow breaths, causing more stress?

You have to just learn how to prioritize do one thing at a time, take one thing at a time.  Otherwise yes life and all that comes with it and the people become terribly overwhelming.  I know and I understand so i am trying to take and prioritize and concentrate on one thing one problem at a time if at all possible.  Some things you can fix a lot of things you cannot I guess we have to learn how not to worry over what we have no control over and that is easier said than done I know.  

Lambshank, you've received the very best answers!  As far as finding time to exercise, the Royal Canadian Air Force published a book many years ago with a fitness regimen for men and women.  The woman's takes 12 minutes per day and has ten exercises, none of which are too difficult or demanding.  Just doing that in the morning makes me feel like I have done SOMETHING for myself  (and you'll notice the  benefits before too long).
Making a list and putting it in "order" or what's most important is easy for me....I do it all the time. Getting something completely DONE on that list is another story.  But, DO IT, because as you cross off one thing after another, you will be encouraged to get to the next thing.
I would add that what you bite off to chew is small enough to handle in a specified amount of time.  When I clean my house, I am distracted easily by drawers that need rearranging, or what-have-you,  If I set a timer for 15 minutes to clean my small bathroom (toilet, sink, counter, shower, floor), I can do it, and do it well.  It's almost like a contest to see if I can finish the task "on time".
Taking time for yourself is SOOOOOO important.  One can't give the job, home, relationships the attention and nurturing needed if one hasn't taken care of herself.  You owe it to YOU (along with all those demanding influences) to take care of you first.   Perhaps you need a sick day or two from the social work to focus on lambshank.  
I learned at work from a woman far younger than myself:  What doesn't get done today will get done tomorrow.  You already know what can wait until tomorrow.  
If the workload is too stressful, you really need to talk to the supervisor about modifying some of it.   Don't feel bad about that, either.  You are only one person and, most likely, trying to do the work of 2 1/2-3 people before budget cuts.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
 

Ducky

Very good advice and well written Bob/PKB!!

fish girl, I would love to do that but shiftwork makes things difficult, I did however get ONE whole report complete tonight,so pleased, arranged to purchase a T>V for a client (no mean task) got 3 quotes, family consent and dept. permission, WOW and only had to hand out one lot of PRN mediacation tonight, if it wasn't nearly end of shift I might almost catch up ..no now thats being silly isn't it !!

I curse the world. Have a few beers, turn up the tunes and in an hour, I'm well again.

If all else fails bang your head against a concrete wall until you quit thinking about all those problems, I do feel your pain.