Today a med student asked "what's the point of asking about past traumas? Doesn't everyone have some?"

The question was not asked with genuine curiosity, more disdain as if the entire concept was silly.

I did my best to explain the difference between "big T" and "little t" trauma, that both are important and we should know about them, etc. Went over criteria A for PTSD and what it means. Went over trauma as it pertains to ACEs scores and potential outcomes.

Both students still seemed skeptical. I worry the word "trauma" has ceased to mean anything other than "something unpleasant in my life". Again, this is someone 10 (?) years my senior who genuinely thought "trauma" was a useless concept to ask about on a psychiatry rotation. How do I educate here?