Welcome to the club nobody wants to be member of.
Right now in the early stages you do not have to make anything special besides focusing on your wellbeing (financial, mental and physical) and observing (from distance) what's cooking in MLC land. I would say the main lesson/skill to learn on this stage is responding mindfully instead of reacting, no matter what. If you react it is like pouring gasoline to flames. It will take at least 3-6 months to master responding. You know you are there when nothing she says or does not cause instant emotional kneejerk reactions.
Another important skill is learning to place boundaries for your own protection. You cannot control what she does, but you can define how you will respond and what consequences there will be if she crosses your borders. It is all about self respect / self love. Again, prepare for months of self study.
Once you feel you have some level of control of your life, it is tume to start thinking about GAL. If you consider MLC behaviour as infectious condition (both depression and anxiety can spread to family members), then getting a life (gal) of your own is the antidote. Spend time with family, go meet your friends, do things you love, anything that gets you off from MLC land.
By this point, you have likely reached the one year mark from BD. Which just highlights the fact that this is not a sprint but marathon. You may want a lot of things right here right now. But that is not how growth or healing happens. Not for you, nor your partner.
Which takes to what KayDee wrote ....sometimes moving on in life can be or can seem easier than standing. And I think it is large contributor why so many MLCrs jump out of marriages within first 3-12 months. They simply do not have the energy and resources to navigate through any longer as crisis has already consumed them alive. If you put them more pressure, the faster they run out... what you do and how you proceed from here is a personal decision. Some stand forever, others move on instantly, others have some boundary that sets them free (like partner applying a divorce).... the good news is you do not need to make that choice now.
Alvin.
At time of BD.... Me: 43, XW: 41
Kids: G19,G18,G14,G12,S5
Together - 20½ Years, Married 19 Years
BD ("I don't love you"): Feb 2019,
BD2 ("I don't want to fix this marriage."), Mar 2020
D filed May 2020, D finalized Dec 2020
I have moved on, and am in new relationship.
Lessons from Stoicism and REBT helped me to exit the chaos zone and become a better person.
"Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. - Epictetus"