"If I don't, the tension between us keeps getting higher,"
Which is caused by her. NOT YOU.
"she gets super stressed out and angry,"
This is HER CHOICE to act this way. It's like a child throwing a temper tantrum.
"She says the only chance I have at getting her back is to respect and honor her wishes for a separation."
BS, if she is unhappy, why should YOU leave? And she can't just go and threaten you with taking YOUR children away. They are your kids too are they not? You have an equal right to them.
What will happen is that once you're out of the house, she'll be able to do whatever she wants while you're left out high and dry. Stand firm on this. My W asked me to leave and threatened the exact same things yours did. I looked at her like she was nuts and told her that if she was unhappy, she could leave. So she did and I was happy I stood my ground.
M-43 W-40 2D - 9 and 5
Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet a new life.
