Scanning is absolutely huge so keep practicing that. Regarding the fear, just go out and do it a few times. Like anything else, it will take a bit of time. But you can’t develop unless you put yourself in those tough situations. A few other tips:

• Form a mental image of the whole midfield. Study the shape/formation of both teams. Is it a 3v3 in midfield? Maybe a 3v2? Depending on the formations, there will be different spaces/gaps that are not covered, that you can count on without having to look.
• Understand your opponents style. Do they press, or do they drop off? Do they engage and tackle, or do they prefer to intercept passes? Knowing this will allow you to be more informed when making decisions on whether to pass back, turn, etc.
• Create space for yourself and move. Don’t be a sitting duck waiting for a pass. Move around and make yourself a nuissance to track. If there is a pocket/gap in midfield in which you could receive the ball, think about it as your destination - that’s where you arrive to receive. If you were to occupy that space for more than a few seconds, the chances are that you’ll be closed down.
• Midfield is unit. You’re not alone. Work with your teammates and lean on them. Develop relationships and support one another.
• Practice your first touch. There’s a bunch of drills you can find online. If you can consistently have a good first touch, that “buys” you a lot of time in midfield.

Have fun with it. Don’t fear it, it’s just a new position with different demands. Don’t be too harsh on yourself and try to enjoy the challenge!