Assuming you've bought Tears for a temporary boost...
Join a guild, a group of friends, or any other kind of static who wont mind/ care what your AR is while you're working to get equipped. PUGs are less welcoming due to the nature of not having the benefit of getting to know others, especially if they have an issue with someone just 5 AR below the "1% max health pulsing damage limit."
There are very few fractals that are all that Agony-heavy anyway. And people who just get hit by anything and everything will wipe no matter what.