Having trouble Getting and holding aggro after level 50

[praysolace]

You're gear is likely insufficient. 6k sounds mad low for someone level 53 but I haven't been 53 in about a month so maybe I'm wrong.

It IS mad low. 6k in Defiance? That's lower than some level 50 DPS (pre-Heavensward!). Your accessories really need love.

Most everybody you'll be running with has at least i115 gear, at LEAST, forget level synced level 60 characters—even the 50s. I had over 10k in Defiance at 50; that's the kind of gear standard most players are at, so your gear is just making this impossible for you. As people have been saying, you need to gear up, desperately. Get on those Poetics for now.

Also yes if you don't have Provoke yet drop everything and go get it. It's non-negotiable.