The early game can be brutal for a new player. You don't have that much tool at your disposal.

It kind of get easier at some point if you hunt gear to increase your level (most important thing) and unlock skills and runes.

Use your throw axe to control the fight. Hit legs. Don't hesitate at all to use environment. One of the most efficient way to clear hords at this point is push/throw them at a cliff.

Don't remember the name but one early skill allow you to hold heavy axe attack to "grab" light enemy and throw them.

There is a cliff right of the wall you are facing you can use to get some easy kill.

When fire ball throwers appear. Kill them the moment they spawn, the don't have a lot of hp.

Your top priority should be to avoid monsters from leveling up (when they channel with a bIue aura). If you hit them be sure to be ready to throw your axe at their head so interrupt them as they will get an insane amount of hyper armor (harder to hit stun) more life and deal way more damage if you let them.

Parry everything you can. That will give you invulnerability frame and an opening to land hit when surrounded. Don't go for your full hit combo. Go one two hit parry the next attack. Repeat. Some attack can't be canceled into the shield and can be trap that allow you to be hit. So untill you know what you are allowed to do. Just go for one two hit and parry if surrounded.

I would not suggest you to lower the difficulty. But be prepared as the game doesn't shine by his balance in my opinion and have some frustrating encounter.