Tense up, seeing cobblers, etc (8)
I believe the answer is:
desserts
'cobblers etc' is the definition.
(cobbler is a kind of dessert)
'tense up' is the wordplay.
'tense' becomes 'stressed' (I've seen this before).
'up' is a reversal indicator (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'stressed' in reverse letter order is 'DESSERTS'.
'seeing' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for desserts that I've seen before include "Sweets" , "Final courses" , "Puddings" , "fools, perhaps?" , "Last courses" .)