Harden up preceding emotional disturbance (5)

I believe the answer is:

upset

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'emotional disturbance' is the definition.
'upset' can be an answer for 'disturbance' (synonyms). I am unsure of the 'emotional' bit.

'harden up preceding' is the wordplay.
'harden' becomes 'set' (set can mean to go hard or dry).
'preceding' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'set' after 'up' is 'UPSET'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for upset that I've seen before include "Put out" , "Out of sorts" , "Overturn or unsettle" , "Surprise win" , "Disturbed or inverted" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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