Islam - Relationships?

I know that dating in Islam is not allowed. I think I understand the reasons behind it, and I am convinced about. This is why I have been thinking a lot lately about marriage and relationships in general, and the basic foundations that are required for a happy, balanced and successful marriage.

I have been in depression for the past two years; it has been worsening with time. 6 months ago, i started seeing a counsellor more regularly, and my situation has been improving since, but at a really slow rate with plenty of relapses. I've noticed that I have harder moments of depression alternated by moments of "clear thinking" state. I know that reason is a fundamental aspect in Islam, and I discovered that depression targets it.

I still have another year before I graduate school. My grades for the last two years have been going downhill: my first year at University was much better, I had very good grades and as a result, I was eligible for a small scholarship.

My depression is caused by a lot of problem. I have developed a compulsive behaviour of watching porn and masturbating. I have seen my learning capacity diminishing over time. I could see how some of my friends where getting ahead in their courses, activities and career opportunities or simply their soft skills. In my case, I have always felt going backward, in a vicious cycle. I have tried a lot of stuff to stop this cycle of depression, but nothing seems to work.

Back to my initial question: I was recommended by my mother to consider marriage only after graduation and few years following financial stability. I agree to some extent. I'm in depression right now and as a result, I resort to porn and masturbation. It is haram and I have been working really hard to solve this. If I'm not in possession of my mind, how can I make sound decisions?

Does this idea make sense? I'd like to meet a woman that I want to know more. A religious woman that can help me understand Islam better. I want to develop a relationship of trust and honesty with her. I want to share my problems with her, little by little, and ask her to support me morally, to encourage me to get out of my depression. I want to also help her if she needs help and care for her if she's down. Know her and her knowing me well - no secret between us. I will tell her my problems. I don't want to lie to her about my situation. I want to grow emotionally with her. Can I meet someone and get engaged & after graduation and financial stability, get married?

Again, I know that Islam prohibits dating. Will that be considered dating? I have been recommended by muslim brothers and sisters not to get into such relationships. Could what I described above be en-globed as engagement relationship going toward marriage? I admit I have no financial stability since I am still in University. It's all hypothetic but it’s important to me. I meet people every day and feel I won't go ahead and get to know a woman if I'm not convinced I'm not respecting my religion. Everytime I have a good feeling about a woman, I retain myself from trying to know her better. I fear my family’s reaction. I fear that what I’m thinking of is haram.

I also want to mention that i have been praying irregularly, and I feel bad about it. I want to take back control of my life. I am too emotionally weak and I want to be strong again. I was once told that feeling guilty is part of the reason why my faith has been so weak lately. There is a deep relationship between myself and Allah(God) that has been weakened. Porn, masturbation, depression – all these have been getting away from Allah(God). I want to win against these three problems, but I need to work on what is causing them. Hard.
Last, there is a woman i met recently. She is western but has converted to Islam. She is reading a lot about the religion and asking her friends about Islam and of sources of knowledge. If I wanted to know someone today better, I would want to know someone like her. I would want to rediscover Islam through her curiosity. I would want to explore if there could be a possibility to talk together and see if there is compatibility. I am not western, and I have already talked with my mom about the possibility of marrying someone not from my country. She told me why look for trouble you’ll find in cultural differences? Different family backgrounds? Difference in philosophy and on methods of raising children? Only a source of problem. Then I found this quote while I was searching the web:
"Do not force a child to behave like you, for surely, they have been created for a time which is different to your time" 'Ali Ibn 'Abu Talib