Terrible Static Shock?

Me and my mother have been experiancing terrible static shock for the last few days and these shocks aren't like the little zapps you get sometimes. These shocks seriously hurt!!! Like today I was walking over the little metal doorway things and I got shocked in the foot I saw a electric bolt coming from my sock and my mom was cooking breakfast and she kept getting shocked from everything! I want to know what causes it? and how can I stop it? Or make the shocks not so painful.

the air is very dry in the winter and that makes it condusive to static electricity. try buying a small humidifier or even simmering a large pot of water on the stove. that should add enough humidity to help eliminate at least a little of the static problem.

Do you have nylon carpets, wear rubber soled shoes or slippers that might help.

you must have a loose wire or something................ try calling an electrician

The air in your home is too dry. Try putting a pot of water on the stove to simmer all day, releasing moisture into the air, or use a humidifier.
make sure you don't over-dry your clothes in the dryer and use plenty of fabric softener.
You can also try rubbing a dryer sheet over your couch and chairs if the problem is being created when you get up from a particular spot.
I have that problem in my car in the winter and I have used the dryer sheets with some success. Good luck.