With me, it has been years since I had a major manic problem to warrant being bipolar I over say being bipolar II. I have been manic, but not at the level I need to go into the hospital for it. I have been in mixed states, and now I am more depressed over weeks and months at a time. Some times, I wish I was manic again. Still, if you have only one manic time to warrant being bipolar I, your bipolar I for life.