All life transitions happen in three stages.

Preparation- A time of great planning and anxiety where the looming change is approaching and we are separating from our past perceptions of who we are.
Culminating Event- The moment of "In between" when we are neither here nor there. The experience during these times is very "here and now" oriented. We may feel overwhelmed like we can't find solid footing.
Acclimation- This is the "calm after the storm" where we slowly piece our selves back together. Grief can loom over this stage and thoughts of the past. However, it is also here that we settle into the new patterns of a new life.