This is regarding my older sister who has a banana phobia. She cannot be in the same vicinity as one or she will panic and exit the room very quickly. Whenever I eat a banana I keep out of the same room as her until I've eaten it.
A 'friend' of hers thinks it is funny and wafts a banana in her face and stuff, which made her scream and ran into the kitchen. It really angered me and I ended up raising my voice and taking the banana away from them since it seems they only had it to tease my sister. I told them to leave as my sister was crying in the kitchen afterwards. I felt bad but I had no choice. I know full well of what it's like when you encounter something you fear, I couldn't let that happen to my sis.
It angers me when people know full well of your phobia yet tease you or expose you to whatever you fear the most. Some 'friend' they are..
Anyway, I asked my sister what triggered off her phobia with banana's and she responded with 'I don't know, I just can't stand them, they scare me..'. Also, I think she's repulsed by the smell of them.
I really want to help her get over this phobia of banana's but I don't know what to do? Would CBT help for this? If it will, I will ask my parents to arrange that for her. I don't want the phobia getting worse for her and take over her life like my phobia has.