It is difficult being sensitive (8)
I believe the answer is:
ticklish
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'it is difficult' is the first definition.
('ticklish' can be similar in meaning to 'difficult')
'sensitive' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
'being' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ticklish that I've seen before include "(Of a problem) difficult to handle and requiring great tact" , "Sensitive, needing delicate handling" , "Sensitive to touch or requiring careful handling" , "hard to handle" , "Easily made to laugh, or needing careful handling" .)