Can't block or dodge attacks (Tales of Arise)

Judging by the symptoms, you have my darling hands out of the ass;)
If the usual dodge attacks, then you need to live before the moment of impact, and if everything is done correctly, time will slow down giving a chance for a counter attack.
And if we are talking about AOE, then suck chupachups comrades, in this game there is no invulnerability frame like in Dark Souls, for example, if you are in the strike zone, then at least jump until you are blue in the face - you will hit in the face anyway