MyDH and I have has some spectacular bust ups, we were all crammed in a tiny flat in a hellish place.
I couldn't realistically leave the flat, nowhere to go, and not a very sensible idea for women to go out anyway, (not in the UK) getting stared at, followed etc. So in the end I chose to stay in, literally for weeks at a time, until the walls started to close in and I would go to the supermarket or whatever. No sooner I was out of the flat, i just wanted to go back inside. Even now, months on and back home, I still have panic attacks going out on my own.
He could go out, no problems, and when he did, i would breathe a sigh of relief. He was under immense stress too, and taking it out on us, and I wasn't supposed to raise my voice etc etc.
All this meant the pressure of the day-to-day got to unbearable levels and indeed, I got swiped once or twice by DH. I sent him packing to his mums, and it was the best thing for all. He stayed there for a few days and then came back. Eventually he verbally apologised. I told him that a line had been crossed, with everything else I'd been dealing with, it was the absolute last time, and he had to seriously contemplate his behaviour.
Think you know that it will be OK, but the situation is working against you at the moment. It will get better, just keep plugging away and it will get better.
Perhaps the time off will give your DH a chance to reflect and consider everything, he knows putting a hand on you is wrong.
My DH is still there, sorting things out to move back, I'm back home already. The last few months have finally got him to see everything he's done over the last few years, and while it's a bit late in the day, and would have made life semi bearable had he come to this point sooner, it IS better late than never. I know we'll be OK, that things will improve now that we are out of that horrible situation.
Have faith, go see the Dr, good idea. Meantime, take time to congratulate yourself for getting those kids all sorted all by yourself, can't think that was easy, especially when you are feeling so sad and scared. Well done! Take each day as it comes. One thing you can take from this is how much you can do by yourself if you need to - it's a confidence booster!