I think descending is a skill that like any others comes with practice.
Tomorrow I'll be riding our "Hilly" club night circuit, there is a shortish steep and windy downhill section where early last year I'd be on the brakes and everybody would fly by me. Each successive lap I let the bike roll a bit freer and relaxed and was soon carving a nice 42 mph with a grin on my face and staying in contention.
Later in the season I went to French/Spanish borer on the Med' and climbed some of the big lumps there. The first few descents scared me witless. I found a nice twisty stretch to practice every other day until my confidence in myself, the bike, the brakes and the tyres improved. At the end of the week I descended Ventoux at an average 40 mph topping 49 on the straights. The corners were a blast, arse back, pick a line, handfuls of brakes, get low, lean in and hope!
Without the constant practice I would not have had the balls confidence to be so relaxed, to brake soooo hard and to lean the bike so far... and to have smiled so much!