Elevated feeling of empathy is difficult to control (6)
I believe the answer is:
uppity
'is difficult to control' is the definition.
(uppity can mean arrogant or obstinate)
'elevated feeling' is the wordplay.
'elevated' becomes 'up' (raised up).
'feeling' becomes 'pity' (pity is a kind of feeling).
'up'+'pity'='UPPITY'
'of empathy' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for uppity that I've seen before include "Needing to be slapped down?" , "In need of slapping down?" , "Informally presumptuous or arrogant" , "Presumptuously arrogant" , "Difficult to control" .)