Sorry, you're wrong.

FICTION: "If I take something for this it will just delay things and make the problem even worse when I stop taking it."

Medicines you buy over-the-counter cannot slow the rate at which your body gets rid of the cold or flu. They have no effect on the infection itself. They work by dealing with the individual symptoms; making you feel more comfortable. The misunderstanding probably arises because the symptoms change during the time you have a cold or flu. For example the clear nasal discharge in the early days of a cold will turn thick and yellow as the illness progresses.

Many people stop taking their medication early in the cold cycle, only to find that their symptoms reappear. This is because the medicine has been relieving the symptoms and they mistakenly believe their cold was better.