Sleep paralysis: A phenomenon in which people are paralysed upon waking and claim to feel a supernatural presence.
The frequent appearance of a tall, slim, dark-shadowed figure in my research on sleep paralysis is reflected in the above pattern design, emphasising it as the most commonly reported illusion.
Another one of the creatures frequently associated with sleep paralysis is the ‘Old Hag’, who I painted onto this duvet cover. This design conceptualises psychological treatment for overcoming fear of the creature: repeated exposure or ‘facing your fears’, gradually causing the nervous system to habituate.
This is a segment from my graphic novel, which featured multiple stories from sleep paralysis victims.