Yes it can and will be real.
Have a wee sit down and think about it, what would actually happen.
You could spend the next hour packing your essentials - you could even leave the paperwork if it involves a search, because you could come back with assistance at some later point. As long as you have important photos, anything irreplaceable, a change of clothes and some warm clothes and toiletries - you're done.
You then walk out the door and go to the police, ask them to help you contact WA and get a place in a refuge.
How will that feel? Terrifying, I would think - for a moment. But imagine the feeling of relief when you are over that first couple of sentences. As people sit you down, listen, VALIDATE what you say, and start to help you get things back to where they should be. That feeling of strange invisibility will start to life as you speak to REAL PEOPLE about what your life is REALLY like. It will be incredible, it really will. It's there for the taking.
You feel scared that it might not happen that way? It will. Hundreds of women do this every year. Situations like the one you are in are WHY WA exists! Sadly, your situation isn't even that unusual. So you won't be fobbed off, laughed at, made to feel a nuisance - those feelings come from how you've been treated over the last few years, made to feel insignificant. No-one 'out there' will think you and your story is insignificant. Look at the response you've had here, for a start.
So you go to a refuge. It'll be a whirlwind for you, mentally, I'm sure. I can't imagine it. Totally chaotic emotionally and really stressful - have I really done this? What now?
But - don't forget - you'll be surrounded by people to help, as well as people going through the same thing. Oh, and people who will advise and hold your hand on ALL the things you'll be worrying about - the house, access to money, everything. As I said, it's why WA exists. To HELP YOU.
After the first confusion, what then? Where do you go and what do you do? Lots of that I can't even begin to answer, but I can give you one (I hope) very powerful tool to get you going. You say you've been married 7 years. With him a couple of years longer maybe? Well, think back to those days before that. You say you had lots of friends. You had your brothers. It sounds like you had a really hard start in life and had come through that to have a happy, successful time! So you can and will do that again. You are young, you are healthy. You have a whole life ahead of you back on that path he took you off - with lots of friends, family support, and an intelligent and resourceful head on your shoulders which will see you have fun, get work, support yourself, get a home, be happy!
It takes a lot of courage to post as you have and start the ball rolling. You so, so can do it. It's hard, but it's not as hard as staying. Think of that 18-19 year old with lots of friends - she's still there, just packed away at the moment. Unpack her!