I finally have my 3DR quad flying ( I use that term lightly) but I don't know what expect out of stable mode while flying. I don't know if it's acting normal and just showing my lack of flying skills or I need to adjust something so I would greatly appreciate some help.

When lifting off the ground it doesn't want to liftoff straight up but I can counteract it and get it up in the air. Once I get it hovering 6-10' off the ground and try to move it in any direction it starts dropping requiring me to give it more throttle. Is this normal? I'm new to flying RC so it may be just me but it seems like when trying to move in any direction I'm really fighting to keep it off the ground and it ends up doing more up and down movement than forward movement.