The support is so important, and you are right, it makes a big difference when you know there are people who really get how disabling this pain really is. It somehow makes the hope part a bit stronger, doesn't it?
If you are using the Quick Reply window at the bottom of the post, above the reply window you will see some buttons there. The second to the last button on the right is a smiley face. If you click on that smiley face it will bring up a whole menu of emoticons.