Right now I am playing a warrior, but it seems like I can only kill a few skeletons in the catacombs before I have to use the stone to teleport back to a bed to rest. Even worse is that I can't even solo a Skeletal Guardian without having at least 10 health potions.
Is the beginning of the game like this or am I doing something horribly wrong?
Also any tips would be nice!

Could you describe your character's stats? What level are you?

It sounds like you have not distributed your experience points since you should be getting stronger with each level up. Look here for info on skill / attribute points and see the attached image for info on how to distribute points. Also Divine Divinity has slower game play which needs some strategy. In Diablo you can charge into a group of enemies, in DD you need to lure one or two at a time until you are stronger.
Look here for catacomb tips. Skeletal Guardians are difficult to kill early on. I like to have the Lightening skill since I can damage them before they reach my character. It is not necessary to kill them to finish the catacombs and you can come back when you are stronger. Also axes are slower than swords. They yield more damage but fewer hits so I try to find a sword with high damage and a zero recuperation time. Use the highest damage / lowest recuperation weapon you can find regardless of type.
Edit: Also look for armor / weapons / charms that magically increase your attributes

In addition to what the others have said, one of my 'tricks' to making some cash for better armor/potions is to sorta 'game' the system (in a completely legit way).
First thing i Do is go into the elven healers house (can't remember his name, but you have to get the plant from his garden at one point) right after the little cut scene in the very beginning [after leaving the starter house the first time]. I go through his house and rob him blind :D - the stuff in there is randomly generated from what I have noticed so I can't say exactly what you get, but I found a book of Telekinisis [which I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to use] which is worth over 3,000 gold.
The next thing I do is go to Georges house, first time you go there there is a small scene w/ a shady stranger. After that is over and I go through the dialogue options, I ask George to show me what the plant looks like. When he goes into his room then there is a large window of time he won't "notice" you nicking his stuff. I grab the locked chest and pop it into my bag (only works if you have enough encumbrance for 400+ stones) grab all of the visible gear and the key that is sitting out in the open.
With those two methods I manage to be pretty 'healty' for potions, the randomness of the gear found is kinda crazy though - at one point I found an awesome long sword on the counter, identified it (at a cost of 150 gold) and was all set to use it... but sold it by accident and didn't have the gold to buy it back :/. Of course my last save game was way way before that point so I just restarted it - next robbing session the gear sucked :(

Thanks, I will try this next play thru . . . =)
Look here for how to use telekinesis.

Thanks for the link :) - what I meant, though, was that I couldn't figure out how to use the book to gain the skill [if it works that way]. Guess I coulda been a little more clear eh?
Keep up with the awesome information I keep seeing you post Stuff.

My bad, it's my understanding that you have to have a higher intelligence level to learn the skill . . higher than what you posses at the beginning of the game. I don't know what that level is but I hold on to the book and right click it in my inventory from time to time. Eventually, either my level or intelligence is high enough that . . . I learn the skill when I right click the book. . . =)
Thanks for the kind words . . . =)

I am trying what you said of just pulling a few enemies at once and it seems to work!
But still a Skeletal Guardian and Skeletal Lord kicks my a$#
I'll just try to avoid them since I am only level 5 right now and just keep killing skellys for a while

Sounds like a good plan, if you haven't already, might try adding the lightning skill as it does damage from a distance. It also helps with the Orcs after you get out of the catacombs.
This is a good walk through if you need tips. Lots of spoilers so use it sparingly . . . =)

The beginning is always a pain in the ass cause the "major" monsters can whack you in a few hits.
Once you get past level 14 or so and also get decent enough equip - things will get a lot easier. There are of course a few skills which makes life a lot easier as well. Traps are insanely powerful for starters, and the freeze skill at level 2 already tilts the scales hugely towards your favour vs any special monster.