Retail Fraud / Shoplifting: Caught Shoplifting at Target, Scared and Concerned

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Colorado

I am originally a resident of Wisconsin and came to Colorado to go to a Private University. I am 21 years old, almost finished completing my degree and was hoping to go on to Law School in the next few years. And then this happened...I will explain what happened and then ask my questions.

Situation:
Recently my mother passed away, and she was my best friend. My parents have rare diseases that they have been struggling with most of my life. I was extremely close with my mother and her death completely shocked and changed me, and I have yet to readjust. I come from a nice, well respected family and am so ashamed that I did this. I had been having trouble with my friends, with my family, with school, with my job, with my personal relationships and was at an extremely low point in my life. I dont even know why I stole around 20 dollars of merchandise from Target. It was like an out-of-body experience. I was previously seeing a counselor for my depression and new adjustments with life but I hadn't been able to afford much of anything those days, not even sure I could make rent. I don't even know why I stole a pair of freaking SOCKS and chapstick. I am so ashamed and mortified. The Target people stopped me, did all their paperwork, pictures, etc. and I was extremely agreeable and accommodating, although crying the entire time. I signed the form accepting the fines, I know that they had video of me stealing and one of their loss protection people saw me, so I know there's no hope in fighting that fact. A police officer showed up, handcuffed me and took me to the station. Because I am a resident of another state, they were going to require a $750 bail, but the officer pitied me and let me off from it. All the police officers could see how awful I felt about it, how deeply sorry I was and ashamed, and explained that I simply needed to show up, extremely early, to my courtdate and because I have no priors, I could probably work out a deferred sentence with good behavior etc. But after doing some legal research, I am paranoid that this will not be possible.

After I explained what happened to my dad, the only person who knows, he suggested I see my counselor again, see a psychiatrist and getting tested for depression, bipolar and manic depression and be treated. I also went back to Target and personally apologized to the managers and the loss protection staff. I did not do this as a politics tactic but rather to express how deeply sorry I was. Most notably because I go to target on a weekly basis, at least, and now I am completely paranoid every time I leave ANY store that they are going to think that I was stealing.

I had stolen once when I was a little, little girl, and that was it. I have no priors, no record, I don't drink or smoke, no drugs, nothing. I am a straight A student, want to go to law school and don't want this to follow me for the rest of my life.

What is the best way to go about this? Should I get an attorney? I can't afford one so I was hoping to simply go to the DA and talk to them directly and explain my situation. Does that seem like a good idea?
I am paying the fees to Target, I apologized to them, and just want to explain to the DA and the Judge that I will do WHATEVER it takes to show that I was out of my mind, and this was extremely out of character for me. I have been at the worst place of my entire life, I am extremely depressed and scared that I may have a mental disability because depression, bipolar and manic depression run in my family. Is there any way to get this expunged? Is that even possible or realistic? The officers at the Police Dept said that so long as I show up, early, and talk to the DA, because I don't have a record, I can most likely get this deferred. And if it is to be deferred, lets say, hypothetically, if someone did a background check in the next year, would it come up with charges of this?

PLEASE HELP! Thank you!