In a child custody battle do I have the right to a court appointed attorney if I cant afford one?

I am very confused with this case. My very own mother, who is a drug addict and has many mental health issues such as Bipolar Disorder, Manic Depression, Schizophrenia with Psychotic Episodes as well as does the man that she married 2 years ago that she met in a Psychiatric Hospital and only knew for 3 weeks before she married him, took custody of my girls from me. My ex husband stabbed me 4 times in the face and neck 2 days after Christmas and left me for dead. Luckily I survived. I took my girls and went to live with my mom because I had no where else to go and she told me she was going to help me. I was having a very hard time sleeping at night because of the nightmares and I was having panic attacks. My mom started giving me xanax to help me sleep and stay calm. Out of nowhere, my mom went to the DHS and made up a bunch of lies and told them I was all strung out on drugs which was not true. I asked for a drug test and they refused to give me one. When we went to court, the judge would not even let me speak the first word or defend myself. I didn't have an attorney. I had no clue that she had made up so many horrible lies on me and all the while she was on drugs herself. My mom was issued temporary emergency custody of my girls. I was ordered to do a drug program. I had a full time job and I asked if I could do outpatient and I was told no. When I finally got the court order 6 months later, it said impatient was preferred not ordered. So I couldn't complete an impatient program because I had a home, a car, and I still financially supported my girls. The company I worked for went out of business in May and I immediately began a new job. That job ended in September and I immediately began another job. When I went back to court in October, my mother gave custody to my ex husbands great grandmother and great aunt. They ordered me to have no contact with my girls and I dint understand why. In court, they jumped my case saying I should have done outpatient and I tried to explain to the judge that I called and asked my caseworker and she told me that it was unacceptable. Its a messed up court system. I wasn't even allowed to speak in court. I tried to speak one time and I was told that if I spoke again I would be held in contempt of court. So all I could do was remain quiet while my so called mother sat right beside me and lied on me. The judge told me I had to quit my job and the only thing I was to do now was go to rehab. Well, I quit my job. I am on a waiting list to get into a rehab that I found that would take me without insurance. I have at least 4 more weeks left on the waiting list. I go to court in March and I know his family is going to fight me for full custody. I dint know what to do. I am by far not a bad mom. I have never so much as ed my kids ever. I have taken care of them by myself while being in a very abusive relationship with their father. I ha vent spoken to or seen my girls in 2 months today and Im about to lose my mind. My girls love their Mommy and they cry to be with me. They carried them out of the courtroom crying that they want their Mommy and they love their Mommy and she is not a bad person. Its killing me to know that they want me so bad and I cant do anything about it. No one has even explained to my babies why Im not there. They have no clue what is going on. Its so unfair!!!!!! I don't understand how this could happen when they had no evidence against me. All they had was my moms word and she is legally crazy!! I cant afford an attorney now because the judge ordered me to quit my job till I go to rehab. I need an attorney to represent me in court in March or I could possibly lose custody of my girls for good and for no reason at all. Can anyone help me with this situation?? All I want is my babies back so we can go back to being a family like we were before my husband tried to kill me. I love my babies with all of my heart and would never put them in harms way and they will tell you that themselves. What do I do before I do lose my mind??