Some like to say dreams are the same as consciousness. I can disprove that - try to pee in a dream.
Just saying.
If consciousness is awareness of self, then ants have it as they, like some other creatures, humans included can identify themselves in a mirror. I wouldn't think ants are highly thoughtful in general. So, I don't know how one can judge consciousness; also, is it necessary to realize it to have It?

Is it the same as the automatic. "duck reflex" at sudden movements nearby I still have after having been severely abused by first hubby over 50 years ago? You talk like someone who has always had "sweetness & light" and good for you, but some of us might treasure a little forgetfulness....

I don't know.

As Dr. Wolf (world renowned neurologist from LA) explained, the mind is a great inventor. That is why a witness is unreliable on the stand.

The mind makes up those elements that it is missing in order to complete the picture. The invented pieces are consistent with the observer's own perceptions and experiences. That is why a person can be tricked into believing something that they never experienced. Its partially why gaslighting works. If repeated enough by those around you that you trust, or look up to, soon your mind will have created the scenario and all the attendant details as though it had actually occurred.

Dr Wolf in his talk in Santa Fe presented an example from his own experiences. It seems the family was gathering to celebrate a birthday. The celebrants, prior to the birthday person arriving, contrived a story about an event in his earlier years

When the celebrant arrived, in the course of the evenings festivities, all the participants began to recollect events related to pre-arranged event. By the time all the family had submitted their false, made up memories, the celebrant suddenly had an epiphany and remembered the aforementioned event. In fact he added details and specifics, even though it never really happened. In fact when he was let in on the joke, he refused to believe that it was made up and never happened. He claimed his memories of the said event were too clear, therefore it must have taken place. His mind had made up a scenario that was believable because he wanted to believe in the event.

This is a lot like what religion does. We are inundated from birth with religious symbolism, such that by the time we are capable of discerning, rational thought, the mind has already invented the details necessary to make it make sense. Even though a critical assessment would render it fallacious at worst, and specious at best. Thus we come to consciousness, it too gaslight us into complacency.

I thought a person could sit and experience conscious awareness without having thoughts of any kind, including memories. Memories seem to consist of symbols or sequences of symbols. You can stop looking at those symbols—consciously turn away.

So far as what consciousness is, it’s a very profound mystery. There’s something extremely uncanny about consciousness. Most people simply take it for granted or don’t want to think about it, but behind the scenes of our sentient reality lies a phenomenon of immense significance of which we are a vital part.

What is consciousness? It is us.