Welcome to SR, Judy. Glad you're here.
It's a mixture of sadness and relief, isn't it, when we finally admit to our alcoholism and start to do something about it? It was for me, too. Then removing alcohol from the body brings up all sorts of crazy emotions. I cried and cried and cried some more in those first days, weeks and months. I walked into my AA meetings not as a person, but as a big ball of pain, it seems like. But the women there loved me through my emotions and grief.
My best advice to you is to keep going to meetings (woman's meetings if you can) and get a sponsor as soon as you can. She will sit down with you and start you on your first step. Also, talk about your emotions in the meetings, even if it's just to say, "Hello, my name is Judy and this is so hard." People know what you're going through because they've been there themselves. They can help.
And, lastly, as far as telling other people and family members. That is up to you, but I recommend holding off for awhile. You need to focus on YOU and YOUR RECOVERY right now. The rest will come in time. You will know when you are ready and it doesn't seem like you are there quite yet.
Hang in there. I'm pulling for you!