Forces in Damped Forced Oscillations?

The example I'm thinking of is a mass spring system.

x = Ae^([itex]\gamma[/itex]/2)t cos(wt +a) + Ccos(wt)

If the steady state has been reached, the displacement due to the free oscillations will be negligible, so does that mean that the only force acting on the mass is the driving force, F0cos(wt)? Has the restoring force (-kx) disappeared or is it still acting (so that the resultant force = -kx + F0cos(wt))?

I'm having trouble understanding how the resultant force on the mass changes in the steady state.
It would make sense (to me) if -kx disappears andthe driving force is the only one present but then where does the restoring force go?

:confused:


Thanks