I've never liked bridges, doesn't matter if walking, riding or cycling. I still won't stop on one if I can help it - don't like to feel it moving. But one day a few years ago, I started to have mild panic attacks, holding my breath, almost wanting to scream, when driving or riding across, and could not walk across. And here in Portland, it's hard avoiding bridges :-) Flying never bothered me before, but I became scared to death if the plane bounced even a little. Always loved downhills on my bike, but found I had become very nervous, and slowed on my downhills. Had lots of other things going on as well, so mentioned things at a yearly doc checkup. He tested my thyroid function and found I have Hashimoto's. After about 6 months on thyroid pills, symptoms started to subside, along with the fear and panic attacks. Also, no longer afraid when flying, and again, I absolutely love to go downhill fast on my bike.

When I first got into cycling, a friend who used to race motorcycles gave me advice that helped:
- the most important being to keep the upper body relaxed, and not have a death-grip on the handlebars. Hold on enough to have control, but the more tense you are, the harder it is to control the bike. It is especially true on the recumbent. The tighter your grip, the more wobbly the front wheel, no matter if it's uphill or down.
-only increase your speed gradually, as you get used to it. If you reach a speed that you can't seem to go any faster, that might be your speed. No need to be ashamed of it, learn to enjoy that speed. If you don't enjoy it, drop 1 or 2 mph.
-on a downhill, you need to always pay attention, no looking off to watch the horses playing in the field so you miss a turn in the road (oops - been there, done that - good thing I was only going 22mph - deep gravel just stopped the bike when tires sank into it, fell over sideways, no injuries, except to my pride).
- if you have a friend who is good at descending, ask them to lead you, but at your speed. Follow their lines through the corners, mimicing their body position on the bike. Then have them follow you, so they can see what you are doing, how you are riding, and they can give advice, things for you to maybe change or try.
- practice, practice, practice - as you become more comfortable going down on a familiar hill, that feeling will help you on new hills.

I'm known to be one of the faster descenders in our group. But I don't go beyond my ability to control the bike. My longwheelbase bike rides like it is a sled on rails. On Tour BC a month ago, I hit a new PR for speed - 56.3 mph on a 3/4 mile long downhill, straight, gradual curve at the bottom, no side roads until the bottom, light wind but no gusts. An absolute rush. I haven't crashed at speed and hope I never do.

Sorry this post is so long,
Edna