Former Disney Channel star Debby Ryan has opened up about a serious brain injury that dramatically changed the way she experiences everyday life. During an appearance on Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meals, the 33-year-old actress revealed that she spent around six months in intensive neurological rehabilitation after suffering her fifth concussion. Ryan explained that her earlier four concussions came from separate physical incidents, while the most serious injury involved what she described as “sustained shaking over a minute of time.” The aftermath worsened her chronic migraines and left her extremely sensitive to noise, bright lights, and the amount of visual information around her. “Quite often I can see better and think better with my eyes closed,” she shared, describing how ordinary surroundings can sometimes become overwhelming. Ryan said the injury divided her life into what she now thinks of as “pre-incident Debby and post-incident Debby.”

The Jessie and Suite Life on Deck star also discussed the lengthy process of rebuilding her abilities. Along with neurological rehabilitation, she underwent an unconventional treatment that she described as feeling “really sci-fi and crazy,” saying it helped her feel like she was getting “back online.” Even with that progress, Ryan acknowledged that her recovery was incomplete and that some abilities “just did not come back.” Throughout the difficult period, she said her husband, Twenty One Pilots drummer Josh Dun, and the people closest to her provided crucial support, reminding her of who she was while also allowing room for her life to change. Ryan has since continued working, appearing in Netflix’s Insatiable and taking roles in the 2026 drama The Sun Never Sets with Dakota Fanning, as well as the upcoming thriller Famous. Her candid account offers a rare look at the lasting effects a serious brain injury can have long after the initial trauma.