Symptoms for over training

I think i may train too intensley however, i enjoy pushing my limits.  What are the symptoms (effects) that over training has on my energy systems and all round physical performance?  and what are a few suggestions to combat these. Cognitivley, enviromentaly and personaly?.Also will takeing this approach to my training have any negative or positive effects on my training ability and health over an extended period?

Gidday Clayton, without knowing the specifics of what you are or aren't doing its hard to give specific advice or to know whether you are actually over-training or not.  Ultimately if your training is good you should be making progress (e.g. if you are trying to increase your strength then you should be increasing the amount of weight you lift etc).  If you are not making positive progress in your training then something is not ideal - it could be over training, it could simply be that you haven't changed the training stimulus in a long time, the body has adapted positively allready and has no reason to adapt anymore, rather just maintain what you allready have.

Some things that would suggest that you may be over-training would include; performance deteriorating (e.g. rather than lifting more you actually lift less, cant run as fast or for as long etc), feeling increasingly tired and lethargic, suffering from colds/flus or any illness that you normally wouldn't, injury (little 'niggles' that pop up more often and don't go away), loosing muscle and hence strength/performance, deteriorating mood etc are but some signs.  

Ultimately good training has adequate periods of rest incorporated to allow the body to recover and adapt to the stimulus you are providing it through your training.  If you suspect overtraining then the first thing I'd do is look at the time you are allocating for rest and recovery, as a general rule I'd allow at least 3 days between intense resistance training sessions on the same body part(s), probably more to enable damage to be repaired and energy systems fully repleted.  Everyone is different however, if you are not making positive improvements in the variables you are training then consider whether you are allowing enough time for your body to rest and recover - if not then start adding recovery days, or have days with low intensity activity interspersed with your high intensity days.  The body needs recovery time just as much as it needs the training stimulus - the effects of getting the right balance will only be positive for you.