It seems to me that we work through things we cannot look at while we are awake (denial kinds of things) while we are sleeping. For me, it happens that everything gets all clangy, I don't sleep well, I can't see beyond whatever is so hard for me that minute.
I become so frustrated!
Then, I will sleep and sleep...and in my sleep, whether I am aware of it or not, I am working through things I need to work through and come into balance around. Once that happens, once there is some sense to be made of whatever it is that has been banging around down there in my subconscious, my dreams become profoundly memorable.
I have a new perspective on an old situation.
Perhaps that is what is happening for you, too?
Cedar