Dear Biggles,
Welcome! I'm so sorry you need TP but I'm glad you've found us!
I have wondered why, of all the forums there are on the Net, this is such a great one . . . .?? I've decided it is because it is driven by selflessness and love. People on TP are here to find out how best to care for their loved ones with dementia, and also how to ensure the rest of the family and themselves can survive the journey.
Because TPers are not here "just" for their own sakes (ie. they have a bigger concern - the care and welfare of a loved one) the forum is a very positive and supportive place.
It allows us to be weak, strong, happy, distressed, angry, amused, and all other emotions . . . without judgement! No-one has to be a "super woman" or a "super man" - we can just be ourselves and muddle along the best way we can. We know other TPers will support us, advise us, comfort us, admonish us and give us space to be ourselves.
TP is more like a family than a forum - the difference being that we can choose our forum but not our family!!
I hope you find what you need here. And, by the way, I encourage you to keep crying. It does help (a bit!)!!