It was just another day at work when Stacey Gibb's phone pinged with an unexpected email.

Amidst her usual tasks, this message brought a stark departure from the norm. Known for her Instagram page, Fermanagh Flow, where she fosters a community around journaling and self-care, Stacey had recently announced plans for a journaling event.

However, the contents of this email, originating from an anonymous address, were anything but supportive.

Stacey found herself confronted with abuse, marking a moment she'll forever remember, along with the accompanying wave of emotions.

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This onslaught, originating from eight email addresses and three fake Instagram accounts, has persisted for three months, prompting her to involve the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to address the online harassment.

Stacey’s Instagram page, typically a source of inspiration and connection for her followers, has now become a battleground against this digital assault.

Describing the messages she's received as "horrendous," the 32 year old is facing a distressing challenge to her online presence and personal well-being.

Detailing how it has impacted her, she said: “It’s affected me massively, even though it is exactly what that person wants it’s impossible to not let it affect me when things have been said about my family and my children.”

“I post my daily deep thoughts almost every day on the page and write about things that could be seen as taboo or things people aren’t able to talk freely about. I know putting this stuff out there means you might get criticised in some way, by people that just don’t feel comfortable with it, and that’s OK, but this is different.

"I never anticipated reaching this juncture, but over time, I believe it's forged me into a stronger individual. There have certainly been moments of tears along the way, yet I'm gradually regaining my footing.”

Having launched her page in September, Stacey recalled the onset of abuse coinciding with her event promotions.

"I received three emails via the event booking website, all clustered within a week," she recounted.

"The page itself began on September 16, 2023, and it was only upon announcing the inaugural workshop that the abusive messages commenced."

“It’s been going on for three months now, and the most recent one has been a fake Instagram page set up with Fermanagh Flow in the name.”

Impartial Reporter: Stacey Gibb

She later posted about this abuse on her Instagram page and received messages of support from her followers which gave her some comfort.

“I wasn’t sure whether to post about it on my page or not when the emails started but sadly this is happening all the time. I have tried my best to not let it affect my day-to-day life, but that is easier said than done,” she said.

She explained that journalling, the self-care activity that she advocates for on her Instagram page has been her solace and helped her.

“Journalling has helped me through it, I’ve allowed my emotions to build up throughout my life and since I have put my thoughts on a page and not kept them in my head, it has definitely helped.”

Other sources of solace have been reassurances from followers of the page: “A lady spoke at the last event about how much the page has helped her and it is a conversation I will never forget. When I have bad days, I think of that conversation and it reminds me of why I started the page in the first place."

Stacey expressed that despite the online abuse serving as a "setback" she firmly believes that "the positives have consistently outweighed the negatives”.

When questioned about the possibility of deleting her Instagram page in response to the abusive messages, she admitted: "Yes, many times. But the benefits of using the page have always surpassed any negative messages or emails."

Unyielding in her resolve, she added: "I talk to the most incredible people every single day on the page, we started our own monthly book club that has nearly 30 people attending, and I am currently preparing for my fifth journalling workshop, all of this wouldn’t be happening without the page, so I am glad it’s still here.”

Reflecting on the extreme lengths to which trolls have gone to "eliminate the page," she said: “The hate has been nothing I have ever experienced before. I have everything logged with the police now so that has made me feel a lot better about the situation.”

Stacey said she is of the view that “there should be more legal protections in place for trolling and online abuse”.

“I cannot believe that people think it is acceptable to make the pages or the fake emails in the first place, never mind actually going ahead and sending emails.

“There should have been something in place a long time ago, it’s [online abuse] happening to school children, which has led to them not wanting to attend school, and that in itself should be enough to put something in place to prevent it happening.

“Proof of identification should be needed to set up any email or social media account, I cannot believe it is not already in place,” she said.