Difficulty Level in Realms is Incorrect

When I change the difficulty level using the command /difficulty, the "easy" setting I think isn't working, I think its accidentally going right to Hard. Lots of mobs show up and they are difficult to kill, even with fully enchanted diamond armor, a fully enchanted diamond sword, and fully enchanted diamond bow. They also all seem to know where I am even when they can't see me - which maybe is a new thing, but I thought that only happened with zombies. I've spent hundreds of hours playing Minecraft and this is truly bizarre, and now can really only place on peaceful because even with jacked up armor and weapons, we might be killed by two unarmed skeletons.