A lot of attacks will make a "shoonk" sound, and you'll want to parry at the end of the sound. You can almost see it as counting to a metronome.
Also see the Lusters in Flying Waters. Their attack where they dash three times has them crossing their arms, during which you'll see a flash. Press exactly at that moment.
The Abbests have a magic attack, where you'll hear two rumbling sounds before the strike. Again, put it on a metronome, using the first two sounds as a guide.
Try playing without music for just a bit, or keep it down a little if you struggle to hear through it. Going by sound, and paying closer attention to the attacks (and not getting frustrated) eventually made some fights go from being a struggle to even get a single move in, to being completed extremely quickly with almost no damage. Headphones also seemingly got my success rate up. Just study the attacks, and start out with basic dodging.
I'm near the very end of the game, and combat feels like impulses in my brain--physical. It's worked super well for me in most games.
I also understand that nicotine is a cholinergic. Cholinergic compounds play an important role in memory, attention, and motivation, as well as some critical muscular function. Nicotine is actually beneficial in this regard, aside from its negatives.
I use AI because I'm done being asked to turn off my ad blocker, and accept cookies, and download the mobile app for a "better" experience, and scroll through pages and pages of absolutely worthless fluff completely unrelated to what I'm searching for. Or, alternatively, get blocked for simply having a VPN on to find out how to do the most absolutely mundane things you could possibly imagine.
:(