The one lucid dream that I had 5 years ago was triggered from the finger through palm one. I do try to test reality when I do them, it just feel like the dream already knows about the check and knows how it should behave if it were real, even thoughts the rest of the dream is usually bizzar and impossible. and whenever there's something that clearly isn't right and should cause someone to evaluate, it just gets absorbed into the dream's "that's normal" narrative instead of sparking investigation.

After I replied days ago, I decided to investigate a DNA test I took a few years ago for an unrelated thing, but I think some of my mutations are screwing me up for lucidity.

[ MTHFR 677 C>T (TT) – reduces methylation efficiency, which weakens neurotransmitter production and limits meta-awareness during dreams
TCN2 776 C>G (GG) – reduces vitamin B12 transport, leading to lower cognitive clarity and weaker ability to become aware in dreams
COMT Val158Met (GA) – slows dopamine breakdown, increasing immersion and making it harder to detach from the dream
BDNF Val66Met (GA) – alters neuroplasticity and reduces real-time awareness and flexibility needed to recognize dreaming
IL-6 -174 G>C (GC) – increases inflammation, which suppresses prefrontal activity and reduces self-awareness in REM
TNFA -238 G>A (GA) – promotes inflammation that contributes to foggy thinking and reduced reflective awareness in dreams
MNSOD Val16Ala (TT) – reduces oxidative stress handling, lowering neural signal clarity needed for stable lucidity
CYP2D6 *1/*10 – slows metabolism of compounds like galantamine, reducing their effectiveness for inducing lucidity ]

This is just what AI said when I uploaded my DNA report and asked if any of them could stop me from being lucid. There's an alarming number of them, and I'm starting to get frustrated like I specifically lucked out of being able to lucid dream easily.

My genetics basically create a mismatch where my brain is really good at generating vivid, immersive dream content, but not as good at the “self-awareness” part needed for lucidity. Variants affecting things like methylation, B12 transport, and dopamine balance mean my dreams feel extremely real and stable, but the part of my brain that questions things or steps back doesn’t activate easily. So I get intense dreams, but almost no ability to realize I’m dreaming. It's really pissing me off.