Charlie Sheen is facing his HIV diagnosis with his chin up as showcased in his latest interview with celebrity surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz.
In a two-part feature on The Dr. Oz Show, the 50-year-old actor opened up about his struggles, including what he has done so far and what he intends to do in the future. The episodes, which were aired on Monday and Tuesday, were filmed in the show's New York City studio and in and around Sheen's California house.
Going Back To The Dark Moment Of His Diagnosis
Sheen recalled how he felt upon receiving the news of his condition in 2012 and how he wanted to suppress the thought.
"It was to suffocate the anxiety and what my life was going to become with this condition and getting so numb I didn't think about it," said Sheen.
The actor also said that blocking the idea was his only tool at that time and believed that it would silence a lot of his angst and fear. Unfortunately, it made the situation worse.
Hiding And Revealing The Diagnosis
Sheen revealed that he paid more than $10 million to people who knew about his HIV diagnosis. In return, these people agreed to keep Sheen's secret out of public knowledge.
Fast forward to when he came out, Sheen said it had been helpful for him. "It's been a liberating sense of freedom," he said. "I wish I had done it sooner."
The Past: Sheen's Dream
Sheen also shared with Oz a dream he had when he was 28 years old. The dream seems as if it foretold his destiny as it involved him having a sign around his neck that read "AIDS."
The Present: Lifestyle Change And Treatment
At present, Sheen is said to be working on his lifestyle. He has changed his ways, curbing alcohol intake and engaging in regular physical exercise such as swimming, jogging and yoga.
When Oz asked about how many times he tried to quit drinking over the years, Sheen answered jokingly: "About 2,000." He said he had gone through 11 years of not drinking and not taking cocaine, so he knows he had that in him.
Sheen also shared his current treatment regimen. He showed Oz a medicine box with a group of his three pills, which he fondly calls "Seal Team Six."
When Sheen takes the medicine daily, he talks to them and asks them to do the work and "kill some bad guys."
The Future: Sheen's Vision
Sheen looks at the future in an optimistic light. In the show, he talked about how he wants to commit his life to searching for an HIV cure. He really hopes that his abilities could result in something positive.
The Two and a Half Men star wants his young kids to search his name on the Internet someday and see that their father had done good work. He said he wants them to realize that their dad is a true hero and that he helped multiple people and persists to support those who cannot support themselves.
Sheen first confirmed that he is HIV-positive in November 2015. He revealed the diagnosis on the Today Show, ending the blind items on tabloids that most probably pertained to him.
Photo: Joella Marano | Flickr
