Originally Posted by
PrettyViolets 
I actually filed for divorce twice, and both divorces timed out before they were finalized. During my 2nd attempt to divorce, I hid my relationship status on Facebook-I did not want anyone to know if I married or single. I took my engagement ring and wedding band off and eventually sold them for a small amount of money (I just wanted someone else to have those rings-I was too sad about what those rings represented). I kept the divorce private with my close friends and relatives and occasionally shared with other people. My plan was to keep my married last name. I mean it just was not something that I wanted shouted out to everyone in the galaxy (especially on Facebook). It felt like a failure. I have seen my friends on Facebook come out that they are now single and normally it is gradually and when they are ready. Divorcecare at a local church helped me a lot with having a supportive group.
I appreciate you sharing this experience - I've been handling it basically the same and have been trying not to judge myself for however I decide to deal with it. I've told a few very close friends and my brother what is happening, and I changed things on FB (but not to "divorced" or "single" or any of that, just not disclosed) and I did remove his family members as friends because I felt keeping them on there could only result in either drama or me feeling uncomfortable interacting with my actual friends in a real way.
I would rather just have it over with and not make some big pronouncement - those who really need to know will know because they know me and they have ongoing relationships with me.
A friend of my AH posted a bit thing on FB a few months ago when he and his wife separated and really it was fine but it made me uncomfortable somehow. Like it was too raw and vulnerable a thing to be shared with your several-hundred-closest-"friends" if that makes sense.