Charlie Sheen says hiding his HIV diagnosis was harder than living with it

"Keeping it under wraps was a lot worse than just having it. And I didn't realize that until I finally sat with Matt Lauer, and was just like, 'Here's what's going on,'" Sheen told host Graham Bensinger. "That side of it, that was really difficult because there was a lot of nefarious behavior. The "Two and a Half Men" actor said he was "extorted" by people who knew of his diagnosis before he went public."

"The actor shared that the lead-up to his diagnosis was filled with a lot of uncertainty, especially after he began experiencing severe headaches. "I thought it was a brain tumor or spinal something or liver cancer or something terminal for sure, which is why I didn't want to go to the hospital. And I think I avoided it for like a day and a half, you know, and finally just had to go," Sheen said."

"He added that his ex-wife, Denise Richards, was the one who took him to see a doctor. Sheen said getting his diagnosis was a sobering moment. "But when you get the results, when you get the news, you're like, 'Oh, OK. All right. Let's just take it, just take this in.' You know, it's not the best news. But there was other news that could have been a lot worse, you know?" Sheen said."

Hiding an HIV diagnosis created greater emotional strain than living with the condition because secrecy invited nefarious behavior and extortion. Public disclosure was chosen to stop threats and regain control, with a live television reveal on the Today show used to end ongoing blackmail. Severe headaches prompted medical attention after initial avoidance, and an ex-wife assisted in getting to a doctor. The diagnosis was a sobering moment, but available treatments provided comfort and perspective by offering better outcomes than other potential terminal illnesses feared during the lead-up.

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