How do I discharge myself?
 

Odd question, granted. How do I get rid of the static electricity within me?

I'm serious. For over 48 hours now I've had this static electricity to me. If I touch anything metallic, I get a -zap-. If I touch the light switch to turn the lights on, small sparks fly. My wife doesn't have any such problems. It just seems to be me, and it's getting to be very annoying.

I don't know anything about this static body electricity stuff. What causes it? How do I discharge it?

I thought maybe masturbation would help, but no, it didn't help. Although it was worth it to try.

And yes, this is a serious question.

Im interested in seeing responses on this as I have the same problem, but its been going on with me all winter

Well, i think you're body should be neutral immediately after you shock something, so you're probably repeatedly building up a charge somehow. I'm not sure what you're doing, maybe dragging your feet a bit when you walk? I think it's mainly a friction thing.

Then again, electromagnetism isn't really my thing at the moment, so i'm probably forgetting something about static electricity.

walk around barefoot

I used to get static shocks all the time then I started going barefoot... I never get them when I'm barefoot

Raise your environment's humidity, wear leather-soled shoes, or hold on to a grounded piece of metal at all times.

Willravel pretty much has it - static electricity is much worse when the environment has less humidity. You can also touch something 'grounded', like a fireplace or something.

don't wear polyester... as soon as your touch anything and get shocked, you should be neutral. but you may recharge your self with movement.

The easiest thing to do is touch wood.

Prior to touching the lightswitch, touch the doorframe - even if it is painted or has a coat of enamel or whatever on it. The wood pretty much absorbs the excess current.

This is also a reason why trees tend to be hit by lightning pretty often. They act as a natural focus point for the electricity coming down from the sky.

It's winter. It's dry. You're gonna get zapped unless you walk around with a grounding strap tied to your ankle.

Launch yourself into space.

Very good suggestions from all of you... Thank you.

I think what's worse than the actual zaps is knowing that it's coming, every time I touch a door knob or a light switch.

Sometimes, when I am quickly peeling double layers of shirts off in the darkness of my bedroom late at night, I can see lightning-like flashes of electric sparks along with the crackle sound.....it's kind of scary. :eek:
I battle the static too, I use liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets to help, and turn up the humidifier.....but I love the softness of acrylic fabrics so I get zapped a lot.
I hate it when I reach out to pet a cat, and zap their nose....I'm sure they don't understand....:cringe:

Along with everything everyone else has said, make sure you're using dryer sheets or fabric softener. That also adds to your static problem.

Probably the biggest thing I've found is using a humidifier in the winter. I have one built in at home and never, ever have that problem but do have it at work.

Im here to tell you I use fabric softner religiously, and while my clothes dont have static, I still do.

Its loads of fun when Im getting home from work and I get out of my car to get the mail out of the mail box and I've got so much static you can see the spark when I touch it in the daytime lol

My comment on fabric softener was in response to Lizra's undressing comment.

This should do it. Get a humidifier, don't shuffle when you walk, and if you don't want to feel the shock, hold a key or other piece of metal and touch it to a grounded object like a screw on a switchplate or electrical outlet faceplate, water pipe/faucet, or your car's frame (touch bare metal, not the paint!)
You and your pseudoscience! :hmm:

Wish I could, but the old mans been soft for a few years now....:)

Ouch - Too bad . . .

Sounds like you have to "discharge yourself," too :eek:

Don't worry, we all have to now and then :lol:

Man this is so EASY

http://www.christinecolumbus.com/ima...ducts/E034.jpg

Hold the bottle about 6-12 inches away from your torso and spray.


Try not to breath the vapors which is ozone.

..

For a second there I thought you wanted to know how to get yourself fired from a job.

Good tips, I had a lot of shag carpeting in my last apartment and my girlfriend and I were always shocking each other.

This is easy. Get a kitten the more cute and fuzzy the better. when its in a nice dark room asleep. go pet the kitten. Ahh i zapped my poor kitty so many times this winter.

But yeah a humidfier helps a lot. Dont drag your feet on carpet or anything like that. wear clothing that dosnt rub together a lot. If you sit in a cloth chair dont drag your butt around on it much.

Pet the kitten some more.

I've done that, too.

If nothing else works, you could go the expensive route of buying ESD safe shoes. We had to wear those at work at an electronics manufacturer, along with ESD safe jackets. Ask someone at a pc store your question...I'm sure they could point you to the things they sell to folks who work on their own computer 'innards.'

ROFL... for a second there I thought you were suggesting powering a mini water heater off his accumulated static electricity!

:lol: Phew, ok I'm done.