Being type II, I really don't remember a specific first time. Having more energy and (I thought) more clarity of thought was just something that happened from time to time. Sometimes when I felt almost high, I kept it to myself because I was afraid I caused it from doing drugs years earlier; especially if later I remembered having a delusion. I remember a period of time where these events started being more common and the lows in between are actually what caused me to seek (or get pushed toward) help.