Many struggle with waking up between 3 and 5 in the morning despite going to bed early. This time period is sometimes called the “hour of the wolf,” a concept from Swedish folklore popularized by director Ingmar Bergman’s film.
This “hour of the wolf” is said to be when the night feels deepest and most unsettling, with feelings of anxiety or nightmares being strongest. It also happens to be a time linked to more births and deaths.
Physiologically, it coincides with the body’s lowest temperature, blood pressure, and metabolism, part of our natural 24-hour circadian rhythm that follows daylight cycles.
For people without anxiety, it’s a deep sleep stage. Yet those affected by anxiety may find their symptoms flare during this time, causing them to wake up and struggle to return to sleep.
The folklore about witches and spirits appearing during these hours adds to the sense of mystery, but science points to natural body processes as the reason.
