it keeps me up at night trying to comprehend the beginning of a conciousness, how do you go from non existant to aware you have a sentient body. if reincarnation occours after death, when does that conciousness switch?

SHOOT

I'd guess when you're developing as an embryo that conciousness starts.
The only thing I'd think that conciousness needs is a brain, a place where this could be stored in as a memory. Else the things that you take up would be lost again in a split second. From what I know is that reïncarnation is the transfer of the soul, which probably won't contain any memory.. At least, I don't remember anything from another life.. o.o

I would say... At whatever point the brain has finished forming, whenever THAT is... But then that doesn't seem to happen at all in some hmmm

Actually I myself think that it comes a lot later.
Like I often wonder if it is really me making the decisions or my brain. (I know should be the same but I tend to see brains as pc's with programmes running )

I started thinking about myself round age 8, stuff like "I can see through my eyes, but how would the rest work?"
My point is, maybe conciousness starts once you are concious of being an individual that is in command if his own body.

I'm seeing memories and conciousness as something that relies on each other. Making decisions is based on what you believe, which can't be formed without any memory/basics.
At least, I think having a conciousness means that you are aware of what happens around you, so that starts already very early. Though not as strong until you have a significant knowledge to rely on.

Yes but sometimes you act in ways that your conciousness would not allow.
Like when enraged, drunk or drugged. Who takes over then, as it certainly is not "you".

Suppressed conciousness and not able to think clearly doesn't mean that you don't have it, right?
It's about where it begins.

I gave my opinion on that
Just wanted to take it a bit further xD

And you don't think clearly and do weird stuff that you usually don't remember.
I can't help but think that that's "someone" else taking over.

Someone?
I can't say it's someone else, just changing a lot of things.

Yea that's why I put it in ""'s
What I'm trying to say is that you lose control over your body, control that clearly is being used by "someone"
Maybe we all are a bit schizophrenic and stuff like that makes the other personalities come out?

When the brain is mature enough to make such electrochemical reactions that it results in consciousness.

When you first realize you live.

Yes mayhaps it doesn't all come at once, "consciousness" is built up over time through experience?

but when do you first realize you live?

Comes with age, I guess.