I'm impressed - and really glad you recognize the importance of the skill for the death ride.

I've also struggled on and off with bad "descending head" - where I just lose confidence. Having had a bad bicycle crash and an almost identical motorcycle crash (both in left turn switchbacks) didn't help - and I will always take a left turn more slowly than a right. My old standby trick is singing (quietly to myself so as not to ruin anyone else's day ). That occupies the part of your brain that otherwise might be freaking out and really can help. (This is a trick I learned from a MTB clinic with Jackie Phelan.)