Check about nervous tension (8)
I believe the answer is:
restrain
'check' is the definition.
(I know that check is a more specific form of the action restrain)
'about nervous tension' is the wordplay.
'about' becomes 're' ('re' means regarding or about).
'nervous tension' becomes 'strain' (synonyms. I am not sure about the 'nervous' bit.).
're'+'strain'='RESTRAIN'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for restrain that I've seen before include "Keep back" , "Limit" , "Hold back, tether" , "Arrest - confine - subdue" , "stay" .)