Disney star Debby Ryan has opened up about living with a “life-altering” brain injury that left her with “hellish” migraines.Appearing on a web series, the 33-year-old Ryan said she has also suffered five concussions and revealed the “fringe science treatment” that helped her recover.“The brain injuries make things significantly worse,” the Disney Channel alum said.“I had a pretty crazy life-altering brain injury a few years ago, and I was out of commission for, like, six months. And I went to this neurological rehab,” Ryan shared. “[I] went and did this fringe science treatment that was, like, really sci-fi and crazy. … That kind of got me back online, but there were some things that just did not come back.”According to Ryan, her first four concussions stemmed from blunt-force injuries, while her most recent concussion was caused by “sustained shaking over, like, a minute of time.”How The Injury Changed Her LifeRyan said her life changed significantly after the injury. “There’s sort of pre-incident Debby and post-incident Debby,” she said.She said that because of her migraines and brain injuries, she sometimes thinks better with her eyes closed, as the world can feel too bright and loud.“Quite often the world is really loud. It’s really too bright, it’s too — there’s a lot going on,” she explained. “The visual data that I’m taking in can be so distracting.”Ryan said she feels “very fortunate” that her “amazing” support system helped her deal with the aftermath of her latest concussion.“[They] reminded me who I am and was and also held a lot of space for that to change — potentially permanently — and love me through that,” she said.Ryan acknowledged that it must also have been difficult for her loved ones to process the changes.How Does A Traumatic Brain Injury Affect You?Cleveland Clinic explains that a traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden external force injures the brain. TBIs can range from mild to severe and may affect thinking, movement, memory, behavior and emotions.Symptoms can include headaches, confusion, memory problems and mood or behavioral changes. Some people can also experience longer-term problems that affect their daily lives.Types Of Traumatic Brain InjuriesThere are two broad types of TBI:Penetrating TBI: This occurs when an object pierces the skull and enters the brain tissue, damaging part of the brain. It may also be called an open TBI.Blunt or closed TBI: This occurs when a forceful impact causes the brain to bounce or twist inside the skull.How Can A Concussion Trigger Migraine-Like Headaches?According to the American Headache Society, post-traumatic headache is one of the most debilitating symptoms following a concussion.Post-traumatic headache typically develops within seven days of a concussion or regaining consciousness after the injury. It can present in different ways but often resembles migraine in its symptoms and duration.In some cases, these headaches can become persistent or chronic.