Period of trouble keeping control of image (5)
I believe the answer is:
april
'period' is the definition.
(April is an example)
'trouble keeping control of image' is the wordplay.
'trouble' becomes 'ail' ('ail' can be a synonym of 'trouble').
'keeping' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'control of image' becomes 'pr' (abbreviation for public relations).
'ail' going around 'pr' is 'APRIL'.
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for april that I've seen before include "Girl" , "Part of spring" , "Start of the financial year" , "''All in an ... evening / ... airs were abroad'' (by Katherine Tynan)" , "Reputedly showery month" .)