Anxiety disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental health diagnosis characterized by excessive worry and fear that disrupt behavior. Fear is usually a response to real danger, however, anxiety is irrational fear or anticipation of a future threat. Anxiety can prevent you from doing things you may need to do or enjoy. People with anxiety disorders overestimate the danger of situations, which causes them to avoid sometimes necessary tasks.
Anxiety can be useful to alert us of danger and to keep us safe. However, when you begin to experience anxiety related to irrational fears that begin to have negative effects on your life, it becomes a disorder.