Nervous breakdown –

She can’t do work around the house

Nervous breakdown – can’t do work around the house – 12-05-1930
Nervous breakdown – women’s health – 11-06-1901
Nervous breakdown – strain on a woman – 12-08-1902

Originally, a nervous breakdown was associated with a society woman, who had so many duties outside the home, that she was temporarily, emotionally drained. Soon, ordinary housewives were also complaining of never finishing their housework. My own mother often complained about an oncoming “crise de nerfs” that Franco-American mothers feared.

Note: “Une crise de nerfs” has a more medical tone to it.