To think I shouldn't get shocked everywhere I go?

[Allinson2014]

Just that really. I seem to get static shocks off of everything and I'm always a bit worried about touching metal as I know it's going to happen. Some examples...

I was in Primark and when the cashier gave me my change she gave me a static shock too. A couple of weeks later I was in a different Primark and anticipated it happening so paid with a larger note but they only had coin change. The shock was so much that I actually threw my change in the air .

My car - it shocks me about 75% of the time when I close the door. I thought I'd got round this by holding the metal door frame as I got out, but earlier I had hold of the door and touched the other door and that one gave me a static shock! How's that even possible?

Metal hand rails always shock me so I can't touch them.

Lift buttons almost always shock me. So shamefully I get my children to press the buttons, they enjoy it and for some reason it doesn't shock them!

I once stroked our cat and shocked his ear!

I know man made fibres etc are worse to generate a charge but it doesn't seem to matter what I'm wearing.

It's driving me mad!

I've been using the "slap" thing too. It works.

For some reason, I get more shocks when it's cold and dry.

I'd say shoes too. I used to get this with certain shoes.

Street lamps are strange. I used to have a car that the central locking would refuse to work if I parked it too close to street lamps. No idea what that was about, but it was real - and very odd.

In the supermarket near my house they have panel you can touch to ground yourself against electric shocks. i wonder if there is something you can do to ground yourself before touching something metal?

I get this on lift buttons when I am pushing the pram
I look like a loon scared to push the buttons

I get this a lot, especially when I'm pushing the pram. I shocked newborn (ie hours old) dd, and felt really guilty.

Something at the back of my mind tells me these shocks can be related to atmospheric pressure. Also the type of flooring / carpeting can affect it.

It's normally rubber soled shoes in combination with man made carpets that are the culprit.

I used to take my shoes off at work to avoid building up static charge and then 'discharging' everytime I went to a filing cabinet.

I have been getting more and more shocks recently too. Especially, for some reason, when patting the dog. Lots of little shocks/crackles, which stops after a couple of strokes.

No one else gets it when patting the dog so must be me.

furtivefeline "Are you on any medication OP? I think some types of antidepressants can cause electric shock sensations when you withdraw off them."

That's a totally different thing, furtive Those ones feel like a current zapping your brain. Nothing like the static shocks that the OP is describing.

One of our cars does it all the time (CMax). It is very annoying.

Lol I think I just peed myself a bit about the lady with the healing hands & her husbands forehead.
It just happens to me now & again,
Usually car doors or people.
I would be most impressed to see actual sparks / a zap!

I get this when pushing a pram. Supermarkets seem to be the worst.

furtive no medication at all

becool thanks that's a great idea. I'll look slightly less stupid slapping my car than I will edging towards the open door looking terrified

Not surprised it happens more often in Primark. Polyester overload

Don't ever go to Morrisons in Taunton. Every time you touch your trolley you get a massive shock. The shop is full of people exclaiming every time they move their trolley. I got so pissed off with it that I went to customer services once and ranted about it, apparently its to do with metal beam things under the tiled floor.

LeChein dry hands you say. That might be what's happening. My hands have gone a bit mad recently and really really dry. I've had even more shocks too, hmm need to get more hand cream on.

I get this all the time as well. Especially in supermarket, on escaltors and lift buttons. I look like a crazy germaphobe, pulling my sleeve over my hand to stop it, when pressing lift buttons.

When I lived in Asia everyone got static shocks during the cold, dry months. Some people carried a little device around to defuse the shocks. A little metal rod with a light that sparked up from the shock. Very odd!

I get them regularly of my cat's nose, the poor thing jumps a mile. We have started approaching each other with extreme caution. I'm guessing it's something to do with the friction caused by stroking his fur.

Do you shuffle your feet when you walk? Shuffling your feet on carpet can cause a build up of static electricity on your skin.

I get this too, always have to approach lift buttons with caution. When I had my youngest in a buggy I used to carry around either a plastic peg or wooden dowel to push buttons with. I'm sure I looked bonkers but better than being zapped.

When DD2 was about 3 she was talking non stop in a supermarket trolley seat. I needed to remind her about using her inside voice so I went to place my finger on her lips. Only I didn't quite get there before I zapped her on the mouth. I've never seen such an expression on her little face, she was most unamused, and wary of my finger for a while!

I get them when I press the lift button in our shopping centre. I pull my sleeve over my hand, or as the OP does, get my children to press the button!