Is bipolar a life long disorder?

Yes: Though the mechanism is not well understood, it is known that bipolar diorder tends to affect those who have it into the latter years of their life.

It is: Though bipolar is lifelong condition, it is one that fortunately nowadays may be extremely well-controlled. The list of famous, wonderfully accomplished people with bipolar is very long indeed.

Bipolar: Typically yes, and both the doctor and the patient need to adapt an attitude of being students of that particular patient's bipolar symptoms, as there is no mastery of them, and that bipolar cannot be cured, only closely monitored and managed.